Blue Cross of California and Loma Linda University Medical Center Reach Multiyear Contract Agreement; Agreement Prevents Disruption in Care for Health Plan Members.

Business Editors & Health Writers

THOUSAND OAKS & LOMA LINDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 29, 2001

Blue Cross of California and Loma Linda University Medical Center today announced reaching agreement on a new multiyear contract for hospital services in the Riverside/San Bernardino area.

The new rates will take effect April 16, 2001, and will allow Blue Cross Prudent Buyer and CaliforniaCare members to continue to access the hospital's medical services without interruption.

"We are delighted to reach an agreement," said Barry Ford, vice president of network management, Southern California. "Our goal is always to reach a mutual resolution that benefits our members and hospital partners. We are pleased that Blue Cross members will be able to continue utilizing the quality services provided by Loma Linda University Health Care Services."

Ford noted that the multiyear arrangement extends Loma Linda University Medical Center's current contract until April 2004.

Loma Linda's president and chief executive officer, B. Lyn Behrens, commented, "We are pleased that we will be able to continue our long working relationship with Blue Cross, and look forward to meeting patients' expectations for quality health-care services."

Loma Linda University Medical Center operates some of the largest clinical programs in the United States in areas such as neonatal care and outpatient surgery, and is recognized as the international leader in infant heart transplantation and proton treatments for cancer. Each year, the institution admits more than 34,000 inpatients and serves roughly half a million outpatients.

Loma Linda University Medical Center is the only institution in the area providing tertiary and quaternary care to adult and pediatric patients. In addition, LLUMC is the only level-one regional trauma center for Inyo, Mono, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

With the completion of the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in late 1993, nearly 900 beds are available for patient care, including Loma Linda University Community Medical Center and Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center. Loma Linda University Health Care, a management service organization, supports the many programs and services provided by LLUMC's 500-plus faculty physicians.

Blue Cross of California and its California affiliates, with 5.5 million medical members in the state, is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded health-care companies. WellPoint serves the health-care needs of more than 9.7 million medical and more than 40 million specialty members nationally.

WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products, including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long-term-care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration and Medicare supplements.