Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Names CareCentrix

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and HARTFORD, Conn., May 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF), Inc. and CareCentrix, Inc., the nation's leading provider of home health benefits management services, together announce a new business partnership that will benefit BCBSF members across the state of Florida.

CareCentrix will now become BCBSF's exclusive provider of home health services for its nearly 4 million members. BCBSF members will benefit from the relationship as CareCentrix provides a centralized solution that coordinates all of a patient's home health care needs, including skilled nursing services, home infusion therapies and durable medical equipment. Founded in 1996, CareCentrix has grown to become the leading provider of home health benefits management services to more than 30 million people across the country through its network of 7,000 credentialed home care providers.  

"BCBSF continues its focus on creating unique health solutions that provide high-quality and affordable care for our members," said Dr. Jonathan Gavras, chief medical officer and senior vice president for BCBSF. "By partnering with CareCentrix, BCBSF is improving our management of home health and durable medical equipment costs that will ultimately benefit our members and providers."

For BCBSF network providers, this relationship brings a stream-lined approach to home health care. Physicians will benefit from a condensed financial transaction, which will result in quicker reimbursement and high-quality of service. CareCentrix's robust network enables it to immediately respond to provider referrals and accommodate their home provider preferences.

"We are honored that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida has selected CareCentrix to provide its members with access to a network of high-quality medical products and services that will support their care and recovery at home," said Dr. William Kerr, chief medical officer, CareCentrix. "We look forward to partnering with BCBSF and the local communities of Florida to ensure people receive timely, appropriate and high-quality home care services."

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida

BCBSF is a leader in Florida's health industry. Since 1944, the company has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of all those it serves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, please see its website at www.bcbsfl.com.

About CareCentrix

CareCentrix is the leading benefit management company focused on home healthcare services. The company offers a full range of services including coordination of home nursing, home infusion and home medical equipment. It recently launched a suite of products that has moved sleep testing and chronic medication infusions into the home. CareCentrix also offers a program, HomeSTAR, that is proven to reduce the number of hospital readmissions. CareCentrix serves more than 30 million people through its national network of 7,000 credentialed home care providers. The company is headquartered in East Hartford, Conn., with customer care centers located across the country. Over the past three years, it has partnered with leading health plans to expand its services and increase its contracted revenues to approximately $750 million in 2011. CareCentrix is a company of Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic private equity firm focused exclusively on health care. For more information about CareCentrix visit www.carecentrix.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc.