UAMS to Participate in TrueBlue Network

By todd

|

LITTLE ROCK – Physicians and services of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) soon will be available to Arkansans participating in Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s TrueBlue PPO network.


 


Starting Nov. 1, patients covered under the TrueBlue PPO will receive full benefits for services provided by UAMS. The TrueBlue network was developed by Blue Cross to comply with the state’s any-willing-provider law, which recently became effective.


 


The TrueBlue network includes about 400,000 insured Arkansans who now will be able to more affordably seek UAMS’ services, said R.T. Fendley, director of business development at UAMS.


 


“Arkansans who are covered under the TrueBlue PPO can come to UAMS without seeking out-of-network exceptions or paying out-of-pocket penalties,” Fendley said. “It removes a lot of barriers for our patients and it also keeps UAMS from having to jump through hoops as patients seek help gaining access to UAMS physicians.”


 


UAMS will continue to be a provider in the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPP, its traditional insurance network.  At present, UAMS has not gained entry into the Health Advantage or Arkansas’ FirstSource networks, which also are operated by Blue Cross. 


 


UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with five colleges, a graduate school, a medical center, five centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has about 2,320 students and 690 residents and is the state’s largest public employer with almost 9,000 employees. UAMS and its affiliates have an economic impact in Arkansas of $4.3 billion a year.


 


UAMS centers of excellence are the Arkansas Cancer Research Center, Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy and Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute.