SINEMA APPLAUDS DIGNITY HEALTH AND BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FOR REACHING DEAL ON HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR PATIENTS

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Arizona, issued the following news release on April 28, 2023:

Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded a new network agreement between Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona that will once again cover health care services to enrolled Arizonans. The deal follows months of Sinema's encouragement to continue negotiations and is retroactively effective starting April 1, 2023, and all services from that date will be processed as in-network.

"Today's agreement between Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona will improve health outcomes, maintain continued care, and provide peace of mind to patients in rural Arizona who trust and rely on their local health providers," said Sinema.

In January, Sinema - joined by Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Congressman Eli Crane - urged Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona to continue their contract negotiations on behalf of all enrollees. Sinema and her colleagues warned that if Yavapai Regional Medical Center hospital services were no longer covered under Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona plans, then it would force Arizona patients to drive hours away to access non-emergency services - delaying care and potentially worsening outcomes and sicker patient populations.

Sinema kept in touch with Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona President Pam Kehaly and Dignity Health interim President Tim Bricker to encourage both parties to stay at the negotiating table while talks continued.

Patients and Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona members can contact Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona or its affiliated health plan using the phone number on the back of their insurance card with questions or reach out to [email protected]. Patients and members can also call Yavapai Regional Medical Center at 702-616-5789 for assistance or questions.