BLUE CROSS, A.V. HOSPITAL RENEW CONTRACT.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick Staff Writer

Blue Cross of California patients once again can get full coverage for treatment at Antelope Valley Hospital, after the hospital and the health insurance provider reached a new agreement.

Antelope Valley Hospital chief executive officer Matthew Abraham announced Wednesday that the agreement is retroactive to Oct. 1, the day the hospital ended its contract in dissatisfaction over the rates Blue Cross paid for its services.

``We did get an increase,'' hospital spokesman Gary Cothran said, though neither the hospital nor Blue Cross disclosed the amount.

Antelope Valley Hospital's decision to drop its contract with Blue Cross affected thousands of Antelope Valley residents, who could have had to switch hospitals or pay more for treatment.

Blue Cross sought to assure its customers that they could still get treatment at Lancaster Community Hospital, and at hospitals in Valencia, Tehachapi and the San Fernando Valley, but people noted that Antelope Valley Hospital had the only maternity ward or pediatrics unit for 35 miles.

To make the changeover less painful, Blue Cross said expectant mothers due before March 1 could still deliver at Antelope Valley Hospital under their former payment rate, as could customers already approved for surgeries or other treatment through Nov. 30.

Hospital and Blue Cross officials said they had been negotiating since February about an increase in the payments the hospital wanted for taking care of Blue Cross patients. But they could not come to terms before the contract expired Oct. 1.