Empire BlueCross BlueShield, North Shore-LIJ Agree to New Three-Year Contract

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The North Shore-LIJ Health System and Empire BlueCross BlueShield have agreed to a new three-year contract, effective January 1, 2011. The previous contract was set to expire December 31, 2010. The new agreement covers 14 North Shore-LIJ hospitals throughout New York City and Long Island, including:  North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, LIJ Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Staten Island University Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park, Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and seven other community hospitals throughout the region.

Empire members enrolled in commercial HMO, EPO, POS, PPO or indemnity products or Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO products may receive covered services at North Shore-LIJ facilities, and from physicians who are contracted with North Shore-LIJ, with the highest level of benefits and lowest out-of-pocket cost.

"The prospect of meaningful health reform becomes much more attainable when the region's largest insurer can work cooperatively with New York's largest integrated health network to achieve our shared goals of delivering high-quality, affordable, patient-centered care," said Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of North Shore-LIJ. "We're pleased to continue our relationship with Empire and we look forward to strengthening our innovative partnership to the benefit of the tens of thousands of Empire members who rely on North Shore-LIJ facilities and physicians for their care."

"We are pleased with this extension for Empire members of our long-time partnership with North Shore-LIJ," said Mark Wagar, president and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield.  "They have pursued a leadership position that can deliver the difficult balance of quality and affordability over time and this new contract demonstrates our shared vision and shared accountability for those results."

Empire BlueCross BlueShield

Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State.  Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com.

About North Shore-LIJ Health System

The nation's second-largest, non-profit, secular healthcare system, the North Shore-LIJ Health System cares for people of all ages throughout New York City and Long Island – a service area encompassing more than seven million people. The winner of the National Quality Forum's 2010 National Quality Healthcare Award, the North Shore-LIJ Health System consists of 15 hospitals, including a children's medical center and psychiatric facility, 17 long-term care facilities, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, three trauma centers, five home health agencies, a hospice network and dozens of outpatient centers. In addition, the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine has been approved and will admit its first class in August 2011. North Shore-LIJ's owned facilities house about 5,600 beds, employ more than 10,000 nurses and have affiliations with more than 9,000 physicians. Its workforce of about 42,000 is the largest on Long Island and the ninth largest in New York City.  For more information, go to www.northshorelij.com.

SOURCE Empire BlueCross BlueShield