Blue Cross NC Expanding High Performance Network with Frye Regional Medical Center and Iredell Health System

01 Dec 2021

Quality-based network will save Hickory-Statesville employers 10 percent in health care costs

DURHAM, N.C. - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is expanding its cost-saving Blue High Performance Network℠ (BlueHPN) in the Hickory-Statesville area, beginning January 2022. Created to improve health outcomes and value, BlueHPN provides members with access to a comprehensive set of high-quality doctors, hospitals, and specialists, while lowering costs for employers. BlueHPN reaches more than 65 major U.S. markets, and is the only High Performance Network with presence in all top 10 U.S. cities.

Members enrolled in BlueHPN through their employer plan will have seamless access to quality care through a national network that offers more than 11% total cost of care savings, on average, on top of the 5 to 9% savings already delivered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies' broad Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). In the Hickory-Statesville area, employers can expect to see a savings of 10% with BlueHPN, compared to Blue Cross NC's PPO network.

"BlueHPN is another example of how Blue Cross NC is committed to making health care simpler and more affordable," said Roy Watson, vice president of group acccunts at Blue Cross NC. "By teaming up with doctors and hospitals committed to quality outcomes, we are able to focus on improving patient health, while lowering health care costs."

In the Hickory-Statesville area, Blue Cross NC is collaborating with Frye Regional Medical Center (FRMC), under Duke LifePoint Healthcare, and Iredell Health System to deliver higher quality and lower costs for members. Both hospitals are part of Blue Cross NC's value-based care model, Blue Premier, which holds health systems and Blue Cross NC jointly accountable for better health outcomes, exceptional experiences and lower costs over the term of the arrangement, rather than a fee-for-service contract. Blue Premier created an estimated $197 million in cost savings and quality improvements in 2020.

"We are pleased to partner with Blue Cross NC to provide local employers with a new option for accessing a high level of medical care for their workforce," said Rod Harkleroad, RN, CEO of Frye Regional Medical Center. "The Blue High Performance Network includes our full range of specialized services-from our Duke-affiliated Heart Center and Inpatient Behavioral Health Hospital to our Robotic-Assisted Surgery Program and The Birthing Center with Level III NICU. This quality-based network further supports Frye Regional's mission of making communities healthier."

"We are always excited to partner with fellow agencies to create better health care models for the future," said John Green, president & CEO of Iredell Health System. "We are pleased to be the only organization in Iredell County engaged with this plan."

In North Carolina, BlueHPN is also offered in the Triad, Charlotte and Triangle markets and will continue to expand to other areas in the state.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is committed to making health care better, simpler and more affordable. We have been driving better health in North Carolina since 1933, working to tackle our communities' greatest health challenges. Blue Cross NC serves its customers and communities of more than 4.2 million members, including approximately 1.1 million on behalf of other Blue Plans. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

About Frye Regional Medical Center:

A part of Duke LifePoint Healthcare, Frye Regional Medical Center has served the health and medical needs of the residents of the Catawba Valley region since 1911 with a commitment to delivering high quality and compassionate care with a focus on patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes. In 2020, the hospital made more than $5.2 million in capital investments; donated more than $79 million in services to those in need; and added 55 employed, affiliated and telehealth providers.

Frye Regional Medical Center includes a 355-bed acute care hospital-home to the Frye Regional Brain Center, Cancer Center, Heart Center, Lung Center, Orthopedics, General and Vascular Surgery, Surgical Weight Loss, and Women's Center with a Level III NICU. The hospital also features a 32-bed Emergency Department, 29-bed Inpatient Rehabilitation Center, 15-bed Surgical Suite and Inpatient/Outpatient Imaging. Frye Regional's South Campus is home to an 81-bed Behavioral Health Hospital. The health system also offers regional access to more than 60 primary care and specialty care providers through the FryeCare Physicians Network. Learn more at www.MyFryeRegional.com.

About Iredell Health System:

Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest and only nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare facility has 247 beds; more than 1,700 employees; and has 260 physicians representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women's and Children's; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The Health System's newest campus, Iredell Mooresville, is home to the area's only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.

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