Access MediQuip and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Announce Implant Surgical Management Agreement

LAKE MARY, Fla., Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Access MediQuip, LLC, the largest provider of surgical implant management solutions in the country and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), the largest provider of health benefits in Texas, announced today an agreement for Access MediQuip to provide specialized implant surgical management services to BCBSTX's vast membership across the State of Texas. Implementation will begin in December 2010.

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"We could not be more pleased to forge this important relationship with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, the leader in health benefits for the state," said Tim Hargarten, Chief Executive Officer of Access MediQuip. "Access MediQuip has a strong and established presence in Texas, working with dozens of surgical facilities for more than a decade, and we look forward to applying our surgical implant expertise to benefit the Blues of Texas and their members."

Under the agreement, Access MediQuip will provide surgical implant management services to BCBSTX providers and members, including insurance verification, implant management, and claim submission for surgeries utilizing surgical implants. These services reduce costs and increase accessibility to surgical implants and procedures.

"We are very pleased that BCBSTX providers and members will benefit from Access MediQuip's unique surgical implant expertise and strong presence among surgical facilities in Texas," said Ted Haynes, vice president, Health Care Delivery, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. "Given Access MediQuip's expertise in this rapidly advancing technology, we are confident they will maintain a strong focus on cost and quality management, which are increasingly important elements in today's economic environment."

About BCBSTX

The only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 40,000 physicians and 400 hospitals to serve 4.5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall, with Blues plans also in Illinois, New Mexico and Oklahoma, serving a total of 12.3 million members. HCSC is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Access MediQuip

Access MediQuip created the first surgical implant management solution more than 12 years ago, has dedicated, skilled personnel focused exclusively on implant surgery management solutions and operates the largest surgical implant network in the nation. The company is headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, and has an operations facility in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.accessmediquip.com.

SOURCE Access MediQuip, LLC