TO:             Participants in the University's Group Medical Insurance Program 

FROM:   Dan Webb, Director of Personnel Services, UTC

SUBJECT:        Withdrawal of HCA Facilities from the BlueCross PPO and POS
Medical Options

DATE:           December 16, 2002


The University has received notification from the State Insurance Office
that Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) has decided to withdraw their
Medical Centers and Hospitals from the BlueCross PPO and POS network.  The
two HCA facilities in our area which will no longer be part of the
BlueCross network are Parkridge Medical Center and East Ridge Hospital. 

Faculty and staff currently enrolled in the BlueCross PPO are being
provided the option to transfer their medical coverage to the John Deere
HMO/POS. (HCA facilities are still part of the John Deere network.) Those
BlueCross participants who wish to transfer their medical coverage to the
John Deere HMO or POS must complete the appropriate forms and return them
to the Office of Personnel Services no later than Friday, January 3, 2002,
3:00 PM.

Please contact Kathy Bonham at 425-4452 or e-mail at [log in to unmask],
if you have any questions or need additional information.  
 
The following is an announcement issued by The State of Tennessee, Division
of Insurance Administration. It may be found on their website at
www.state.tn.us/finance/ins/



Statement Concerning the Withdrawal of HCA Facilities from the BlueCross
PPO and POS offering

The Division of Insurance Administration became aware of this situation on
late Friday afternoon, December 6, 2002.  BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
has notified our office that all hospitals affiliated with HCA are leaving
the BlueCross PPO and POS networks (networks P and S) on December 31, 2002.
 This includes:


· Centennial Medical Center, Nashville
· Centennial Medical Center, Ashland City
· East Ridge Hospital, Chattanooga
· Grandview Medical Center, Jasper
· Hendersonville Medical Center, Hendersonville
· Horizon Medical Center, Dickson
· Northcrest Medical Center, Springfield
· Parkridge Medical Center, Chattanooga
· River Park Hospital, McMinnville
· Skyline Medical Center, Nashville
· Southern Hills Medical Center, Nashville
· Southern Hills Medical Center, Smyrna
· Summitt Medical Center, Hermitage


Effective January 1, 2003, benefits for services received at the listed HCA
hospitals will only be provided for emergency situations or on an out-of
network basis. 

As a result of this development, a limited time transfer opportunity has
been authorized for affected plan members.  Participants who feel that they
will be adversely affected by this issue will be allowed to transfer
coverage to either the Aetna HMO or John Deere HMO/POS, if available in the
service area.  Depending upon location, some of these hospitals may be
available in the Aetna and John Deere networks.  Links to provider
directories are provided below.  This is a one time only transfer
opportunity; all transfers will be effective on January 1, 2003, and will
be effective for the entire calendar year.  This transfer option is being
provided so that employees will have some way to preserve their access to
these facilities if that is an important consideration to them.  

Before making the decision to transfer to another healthcare option, plan
participants may want to contact their physician to determine if they have
admitting privileges to facilities other than HCA.  Employees should also
review the 2003 Medical Options Comparison and member handbooks as the
benefit structure varies for the PPO, POS and HMO options.

To transfer coverage, an enrollment/change application and a primary care
physician selection form must be completed and returned to your agency
insurance preparer by December 30, 2002 (January 3, 2003 for University of
Tennessee employees).  For individuals who take advantage of this transfer
opportunity, should negotiations between BlueCross and HCA be resolved,
participants will not be allowed to transfer again.  





Kathy Bonham
Benefits Specialist
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Personnel Services, Dept. #3603
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN  37403
Office 423-425-4452
Fax 423-425-4574