Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Cancer Treatment Centers of America Announce New Agreement to Serve Cancer Patients

ATLANTA --(Business Wire)--

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) and Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Southeastern Regional Medical Center (Southeastern) have entered an agreement that brings new options and access to cancer patients at the newest CTCA hospital in Newnan, Ga.

The new alliance allows BCBSGa members complete access to the state-of-the-art, all-digital CTCA regional hospital - and its fully integrated care model - as an in-network provider.

The agreement also advances innovation and clinical collaboration with quality-of-care provisions created by BCBSGa and CTCA to enhance the quality of oncology care available to BCBSGa customers, improve their quality of life, and emphasize the transparency and accountability that support outcomes-based performance.

"Our growing relationship with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia enables us to provide more treatment choices to cancer patients and their families from across the country," said Anne Meisner, president and CEO at CTCA at Southeastern Regional Medical Center, which has experienced accelerated growth in its first six months of operation. "This marks another step in our ongoing efforts to make CTCA a better place for patients to receive care, clinicians to practice integrated and personalized medicine, and employees to work. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia."

"With the addition of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, our members throughout Georgia will continue to have greater in-network access to quality medical care," said Alexandra Leopold, vice president of Provider Engagement and Contracting at BCBSGa.

CTCA specializes in treating complex and advanced-stage cancer and is home to Patient Empowered Care®. This unique treatment model combines state-of-the-art clinical treatments and technology with an array of complementary therapies - such as nutritional therapy, natuopathic medicine, pain management, oncology rehabilitation, mind-body medicine and spiritual support - that help minimize side effects and improve quality of life.

"Cancer Treatment Centers of America further complements our existing networks in Georgia," said Morgan Kendrick, president, BCBSGa. "We continually strive to offer our members many choices when it comes to selecting their health care provider, as well as access to quality health care."

BCBSGa celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2012, and as the state's largest and longest-standing insurer, serves more than 2.4 million members, offering a variety of healthcare plans, including medical, dental, life and specialty programs.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America^®

Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrated approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard^® of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine^®, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to www.cancercenter.com.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association^®. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is available at www.bcbsga.com. Also, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at www.twitter.com/BCBSGaPR on Facebook (News - Alert) at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinInBCBSGa, visit our YouTube (News - Alert) channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin or check out the Our Health Connects Us campaign site at http://connects.bcbsga.com/.