Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Names New Directions as Provider of Behavioral Health Care Services

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF), Inc. and New Directions Behavior Health, LLC, together announce a new business partnership that will benefit BCBSF members across the state of Florida.

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New Directions Behavioral Health will now become a provider of behavioral health services for BCBSF's members residing in the state.

New Directions Behavioral Health will actively serve approximately 5.4 million members across the nation with the addition of the BCBSF members. 

New Directions offers a wide variety of managed behavioral healthcare programs and services to its clients. The company is recognized as one of the thought leaders in the behavioral health field and is experiencing significant growth, and more than tripled the number of individuals served between 2008 and 2011.

BCBSF members will benefit from the relationship as New Directions provides an integrated solution that coordinates all of a patient's behavioral health care needs.

"The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 puts pressure on employers to provide quality behavioral health care while continuing to contain costs," said Dr. Jonathan Gavras, chief medical officer and senior vice president for BCBSF. "New Directions has the experience and processes that can aid BCBSF customers in these efforts."

"We're excited about the opportunities this partnership brings to both organizations," said John Quick, President and CEO of New Directions. "This collaboration expands our commitment to integrating behavioral health and medical care. We look forward to working together with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida to improve behavioral health care for their members while reducing unnecessary costs."

BCBSF members who are interesting in finding behavior health network providers in the state can access and search in the "My Blue Service" section on the company's website, or contact BCBSF Care Consultants at 800-FLA-BLUE (352-2583) for more information.

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 New Directions Behavioral Health

Located in Leawood, Kan., New Directions is one of the fastest growing managed behavioral health organizations in the nation. New Directions customers include health plans, employers, and governments through employee assistance program, managed behavioral healthcare, organizational consulting, and health coaching services, with 5.4 million members located in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.ndbh.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida