Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia and WVU Medicine announce agreement on multi-year contract

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. and MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia (Highmark West Virginia) and WVU Medicine on Wednesday announced a long-term contract with WVU Medicine doctors and hospitals that will ensure access for all Blue Cross Blue Shield members in West Virginia. The contract encompasses all WVU Medicine facilities and WVU Medicine primary and specialist care practice sites across the state, as well as future facility or physician acquisitions.

“Highmark’s new multi-year contract agreement with WVU Medicine achieves an important balance: long-term access to the state’s largest health care system to provide quality care to our members, while also recognizing the need to maintain comprehensive and affordable health benefit programs for our customers throughout West Virginia,” said Jim Fawcett, president of Highmark West Virginia. “As health care costs continue to rise, we need to continue to work with all health care providers to reach mutually acceptable agreements that are in the community’s best interests.”

“We look forward to continuing to provide the highest quality and most efficient care to Highmark members across all of our hospitals and practice sites,” said Albert L. Wright, Jr., president & CEO of the West Virginia University Health System. “Our new agreement exhibits WVU Medicine’s long-term commitment to partner with Highmark to improve the health of West Virginians.”

Highmark West Virginia and WVU Medicine continue to work together to improve quality and cost for Blue Cross Blue Shield members. A number of WVU Medicine facilities hold Blue Distinction certification in bariatric surgery, cardiac care, knee and hip replacement, maternity care, spine surgery and adult bone marrow/stem cell transplants. Blue Distinction is a designation from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, providing Blue Plan members with a credible means of identifying hospitals that meet their individual health care needs for select procedures and conditions.

“WVU Medicine and Highmark West Virginia share the common goal of serving West Virginians,” Fawcett added. “We know that Blue Cross Blue Shield members deserve and expect top quality care here in West Virginia – close to home. It should be comforting for everyone in the region to know both companies are in agreement and fully aligned.”

The multi-year agreement between Highmark West Virginia and WVU Medicine includes WVU’s flagship hospital, J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown; Berkeley Medical Center in Martinsburg; Braxton County Memorial Hospital in Gassaway; Camden Clark Medical Center in Parkersburg; Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson; Potomac Valley Hospital in Keyser; Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale; St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon; United Hospital Center in Bridgeport; Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville; and will also include Summersville Regional Medical Center in Summersville (effective July 1, 2019). The agreement also includes five institutes – the WVU Cancer Institute, the WVU Critical Care and Trauma Institute, the WVU Eye Institute, the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute, and the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, as well as all hospital based services, including emergency, lab and imaging services, as well as pediatric, women’s health, behavioral health, surgical services.

Featured

SHOPS & SERVICES

Upshur County Courthouse

County approves $11.5-million-dollar budget, which includes several earmarked ARPA-funded projects

BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission’s budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year saw increases in the regional jail bill and increases to PEIA premiums, but commissioners were still able to provide 3 percent raises across elected officials’ departments. Upshur County […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Maxell and Currence garner All-State basketball recognition

TENNERTON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs had two players selected to the 2022-23 WVSWA Class AAAA Girls’ Basketball Team that was voted on by the state’s sports writers. Senior forward/center Kendall Currence and junior guard

Sports

Class AAAA Boy’s All-State Basketball Team announced

CHARLESTON — The Class AAAA All-State Boys Basketball Team as selected by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association was announced today. Sharron Young, who led Morgantown to the Class AAAA title, was named the First

Softball Lady Bucs roll Preston in three innings, 20-3

KINGWOOD – After getting just one hit and shutout in their opener against Lincoln on Monday, the Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Bucs had no offensive shortage against the Preston Knights in a 20-3 demolition Wednesday evening in Kingwood in Big 10 Conference […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

Lady Buc netters tumble to regional foes Wheeling Park and University

BUCKHANNON – The Buckhannon-Upshur Lady Buc tennis team squared off against a pair of regional powerhouses on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday at the West Virginia Wesleyan courts, they lost a 6-1 decision to Wheeling Park then on Tuesday on […]

Become a premium member to unlock immediate access to this story and thousands more. Plus you’ll wake up every morning to our email edition. Your subscription supports local news by local writers. Signing up is easy — just tap the button below!

SHOPS & SERVICES

Upshur Stars recognized at recent Board of Education meeting

BUCKHANNON — Buckhannon-Upshur High School and Fred Eberle Technical Center students were recognized at a recent Upshur County Board of Education meeting for their excellence in recent competitions. B-UHS swim coaches Mrs. Jennifer Bennett and Mr.