BayCare reaches new agreement with Florida Blue

After months of contract disputes, BayCare Health Systems and Florida Blue reached a new, multiyear network agreement, maintaining patient access just hours before the old one was set to expire.

The new agreement goes into effect Wednesday, Oct. 1 and covers all of BayCare’s 16 hospitals across Pinellas, Pasco, Polk and Hillsborough counties and includes its ambulatory network and BayCare Medical Group, the region’s largest multi-specialty physician group.

Florida Blue provides health insurance to more than 5 million Floridians, the company says. Most Florida Blue members will see no interruption in services, however, the new agreement does end primary care access for Medicare Advantage plan members. They will still be able to see specialty physicians within the BayCare network.