Our goal is to keep the cost of coverage affordable for our members. Our group customers’ and members’ need for affordability became more urgent during the pandemic and as inflation rose. To deliver the cost savings our customers need, we’ll be negotiating new contracts — or ending contracts — with some providers who are being paid or are requesting higher-than-average rates. 

We have not reached an agreement with Memphis Radiological Professional Corp., so their providers are out of network effective Oct. 1, 2022. We know network changes can be frustrating for our members, so we make them only when necessary. Thankfully, however, this issue should have no impact on our members.  

We’re focusing these efforts on providers who work at but aren’t employed directly by in-network hospitals. Due to the provisions outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), health care patients are now legally protected against balance billing or surprise bills from out-of-network providers. So even if a member gets care from an out-of-network provider practicing at an in-network facility, the member’s portion of the cost won’t change. The law protects our members from getting unexpected bills, even if these providers end up leaving our networks. 

Our negotiation concerns only how much BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee pays Memphis Radiological Professional Corp.  

Memphis Radiological Professional Corp. providers serve the following health care facilities:

West Tennessee

• Hardin Medical Center 
• Le Bonheur Children's Hospital 
• Methodist Germantown Hospital 
• Methodist Memphis Healthcare - Central 
• Methodist North Hospital 
• Methodist Olive Branch Hospital 
• Methodist South Hospital 
• Methodist University Hospital 

This change will not impact costs for members. Because of the provisions outlined in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), health care patients are now legally protected against balance, or surprise, bills from out-of-network providers. So even if a member gets care from an out-of-network provider practicing at an in-network facility, the member’s portion of the cost won’t change. This includes care for patients who are hospitalized with scheduled procedures that would use Memphis Radiological Professional Corp. services, and whose stays extend beyond Oct. 1, 2022.