Latest news with #BlueShield
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
BlueCross BlueShield at risk of losing CHRISTUS Health contract due to healthcare dispute
For decades BlueCross and BlueShield of Texas (BCBSTX) has been an accepted insurance provider for CHRISTUS Health, but that could all change if they cannot reach an agreement by July 1. Visit this article to learn more: KETK/FOX51 News covers East Texas, bringing you the latest local stories, weather, sports and lifestyle coverage from the Piney Woods. Keep up with KETK/FOX51 News: Download the KETK/FOX51 app: Subscribe to KETK/FOX51 News: Find us on Facebook: and
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Health
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘Reckless' Blue Shield move threatens UC Health access, says S.F. City Attorney
San Francisco officials are urging Blue Shield of California to resolve its contract dispute with UC Health, warning that the breakdown threatens access to critical care for thousands of San Francisco city workers and retirees. In a letter sent Thursday to Blue Shield's interim CEO Mike Stuart, City Attorney David Chiu and Supervisor Matt Dorsey urged the insurer to finalize an agreement with UC Health, which includes UCSF Medical Center and its affiliates. Negotiations between the two health care giants have stalled over reimbursement rates, with Blue Shield warning that UC Health plans to terminate the contract on July 10 unless a new deal is reached. The impasse could affect tens of thousands of Californians insured through employer plans, Covered California, CalPERS and Medicare. They cited potential disruptions for roughly 5,000 San Francisco Health Service System members — city employees and retirees — who rely on UCSF providers for essential services, including cancer treatments and specialty care. 'Blue Shield's termination of its relationship with UC Health in the middle of a coverage period is unacceptable,' the letter stated. 'Blue Shield's improvident and reckless position upends the expectations of the members who chose Blue Shield coverage and the City agencies that approved the Blue Shield rates last year.' Dorsey added, 'Here's the bottom line: a large segment of our workforce relied on access to UCSF Health's physicians and services when they chose Blue Shield during open enrollment. For Blue Shield to now materially eliminate these healthcare options — in the middle of a plan year — is, in my view, unfair and potentially a breach of contract.' 'UC Health continues to do our part to negotiate with Blue Shield in hopes of reaching a new, fair agreement to preserve in-network access to UC Health locations without interruptions for Blue Shield of California members,' the UC Office of the President said in a statement this month. The City Attorney's Office is now evaluating legal avenues, signaling that legal action is possible if Blue Shield fails to preserve in-network access to UC Health. 'There is no more time to waste,' the letter emphasized. 'Blue Shield needs to prioritize patient care.'
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Canada's Myles Creighton does it all in first win on Korn Ferry Tour
Myles Creighton had such a good week he almost forgot about the hole-in-one. Creighton, from Digby, N.S., had an ace on a par-3 hole in Friday's second round, followed it up with an 11-under 59 in the third round, and then had a 2-under 68 on Sunday to win the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada's Myles Creighton does it all in first win on Korn Ferry Tour
Myles Creighton had such a good week he almost forgot about the hole-in-one. Creighton, from Digby, N.S., had an ace on a par-3 hole in Friday's second round, followed it up with an 11-under 59 in the third round, and then had a 2-under 68 on Sunday to win the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open. His first victory on the Korn Ferry Tour and catapulted him 58 spots up to 16th on the second-tier circuit's points list. 'Just kind of processing it all still,' said Creighton as he travelled to the Memorial Health Championship in Springfield, Ill. 'I think it'll take a little while to set in but we another tournament and all so it kind of on to the next one, trying to prepare. 'But I am, you know, trying to enjoy this one, and we'll do that for at least a couple weeks.' Creighton wasn't even sure he'd be able to play the weekend at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, but he had two eagles on Friday — the hole-in-one on the par-3 12th and a hole out on the par-4 15th as he shot 30 on the back nine — to make the cut with a round of a 2-under 68. That set up Creighton's Saturday, where he had 12 birdies and one bogey to move to the top of the leaderboard. He then held on to that lead in the final round for the victory. Creighton became just the third player in Korn Ferry Tour history to win an event after carding a sub-60 round the same week. 'It was just such a crazy week,' Creighton said with a chuckle. 'All the things that happened, just to give myself a chance to play on Saturday and then 59 on Saturday and then win the golf tournament.' He is the second Canadian to win on the Korn Ferry Tour after Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., was victorious at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic on Jan. 22. Derek Ingram, the head coach of Golf Canada's men's team, was at Crestview Country Club last week to support Creighton and the other Canadians in the field at the Wichita Open. He said Creighton's impressive week was a result of consistent hard work. 'The message with Myles for the last two or three months has been to be patient, keep working the plan, and if you do the right things long enough, we will get rewarded,' said Ingram on Tuesday. 'But it's tough for a guy to be patient when they're not getting rewarded but we knew good things were going to happen. 'I wasn't expecting, you know, a hole-in-one, a 30 on the back nine on Friday to make the cut, a 59, and then to win the tournament. We were just expecting great results, whether it's the top five or some consistent results coming down the pipeline, but that was fantastic and a dream come true for Myles.' Creighton and Yellamaraju are both in the field at this week's Memorial Health Championship. Yellamaraju is 18th on the points list. They'll be joined at Panther Creek Country Club by Vancouver's Stuart Macdonald (34th), Matthew Anderson (55th) of Mississauga, Roger Sloan (130th) of Merritt, B.C., and Etienne Papineau (141st) of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. PGA TOUR — Amateur Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., will be in the field at this week's Rocket Classic on a sponsors exemption. He'll be joining regular PGA Tour players Adam Hadwin (ranked 112th on the FedEx Cup standings) of Abbotsford, B.C., Ben Silverman (166th) of Thornhill, Ont., and Adam Svensson (167th) of Surrey, B.C., in the field at Detroit Golf Club. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is the lone Canadian teeing off at the Italian Open this week. He's 116th on the European-based tour's Race to Dubai points list heading into play at Argentario Golf Club in Monte Argentario, Italy. CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary's Stephen Ames, Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., and Dave Bunker of Richmond Hill, Ont., are in this week's U.S. Senior Open Championship. Ames is 35th on the Schwab Cup points list and Weir is 70th heading into play at Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, Colo. Bunker hasn't played on the Champions Tour since 2016. LPGA TOUR — Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., leads the Canadian contingent into this week's Dow Championship. Grewal is 131st in the Race to CME Globe standings heading into play at Midland Country Club in Midland, Mich. Hamilton's Alena Sharp (141st) and Maude-Aimee Leblanc (156th) of Sherbrooke, Que., are also in the field. EPSON TOUR — Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., is the top ranked Canadian on the second-tier Epson Tour heading into the Otter Creek Championship on Friday. She's 40th in the Race for the Card standings heading into play at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus, Ind. There are nine Canadians in the field including Brooke Rivers (56th) of Brampton, Ont., Josee Doyon (63rd) of Saint-Georges, Que., Monet Chun (69th) of Richmond Hill, Ont., Mary Parsons (104th) of Delta, B.C., Yeji Kwon (126th) of Port Coquitlam, B.C., Vancouver's Leah John (138th), Brigitte Thibault (146th) of Rosemere, Que., and Toronto's Ashley Chow (unranked). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Blue Shield of California Announces Actions to Simplify Prior Authorization Process
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies aim to improve the prior authorization process to make health care safer, effective and more accessible OAKLAND, Calif., June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its mission to help members access quality, affordable health care, Blue Shield of California announced today a series of improvements to the prior authorization process. Alongside other national insurance providers, Blue Shield and other Blue Cross Blue Shield companies announced six commitments that will make the process faster, more seamless and more streamlined. "Our members deserve safe, evidence-based, high-value care without delays. That's why we're committed to these prior authorization reforms to make the process faster, simpler and less burdensome," said Mike Stuart, interim president and CEO, Blue Shield of California. "Blue Shield of California has been actively advancing in this direction through our Prior Authorization Reimagined initiative, which was introduced last year, and we are proud to be part of a broader movement." As part of today's announcement, Blue Shield is committing to: Standardizing provider submissions for electronic prior authorization, giving doctors more time for patients by lessening administrative burden. Further reducing the use of prior authorization for certain in-network medical services by 2026. Ensuring a seamless process for members who switch health insurance companies by honoring their previous health insurance company's prior authorization approvals for benefit-equivalent in-network services as part of a 90-day transition period, by 2026. Making the process more transparent by ensuring our communications to members about prior authorization are clear and contain personalized information, including what is needed to support approval, next steps and available appeal processes. Fast-tracking responses for electronic prior authorization requests by committing to answering at least 80% of requests in near real-time in 2027. Affirming that licensed physicians personally lead reviews of unapproved prior authorization requests. "Improving the prior authorization process will help us create an efficient, affordable and sustainable healthcare system for everyone," said Stuart. "There's real power in the Blues working together to move the industry forward, and these joint commitments reflect our shared determination to put members first while driving more affordable care." About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. The health plan is a tax paying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with 6 million members, over 7,500 employees and more than $25 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $60 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit Or follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook. About the Blue Cross Blue Shield AssociationThe Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 33 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit About AHIPAHIP is the national trade association representing the health insurance industry. AHIP's members provide health care coverage, services and solutions to more than 200 million Americans. We are committed to market-based solutions and public-private partnerships that make high-quality coverage and care more affordable, accessible and equitable for everyone. For more information, visit CONTACT: Mark SeeligBlue Shield of California 510-607-2359 media@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Blue Shield of California Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
