Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is terminating its Medicare Advantage and managed Medicaid contracts with MD Anderson Cancer Center, effective Nov. 1.
"While MD Anderson welcomes the opportunity to remain in-network for these plans, our goal is to ensure continuity of care for those in active treatments," a spokesperson for the Houston-based hospital told Becker's. "The institution is in touch with affected patients and is working with Blue Cross Blue Shield on coordination of care for these patients."
It is unclear how many individuals are impacted by the contract termination. BCBS Texas has more than 9,200 members with a Medicare Advantage HMO plan in the state, according to CMS. BCBS Texas administers Medicaid in the state's Travis and Central regions, which include Austin and Waco.
Retirees with Medicare Advantage plans from the University of Texas System and the Texas A&M University System are not affected. MD Anderson will still accept MA plans from Optum's Kelsey-Seybold Clinic; BCBS Illinois, Montana, New Mexico and Oklahoma; and out-of-state BCBS PPO plans, per its website.
BCBS Texas is owned by Chicago-based Health Care Service Corporation, which also operates the BCBS plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Montana. The insurer provided the following statement to Becker's:
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas made the difficult but necessary decision to remove The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston from our Medicare Advantage (PPO), Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (HMO) and Medicaid networks, effective Nov. 1, 2024."
"As a customer-owned health insurer founded in Texas almost 95 years ago, our mission is always to serve our members by providing access to high-quality, cost-effective health care solutions. We will work closely with our members to redirect their care to nearby providers in their network. Members who are pregnant or being treated for a disability, acute condition, or life-threatening illness may qualify as a continuity-of care patient, and still be able to receive care at MD Anderson at in-network rates."