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Press Release

Independence Blue Cross and Temple University Health System Ink New Multi-Year Contracts

Philadelphia, PA - June 20, 2008 - Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates (IBC) and Temple University Health System (TUHS) announced today that they have reached agreement on new multi-year contracts effective July 1, 2008 with an initial term through December 31, 2012.

“We’ve had a positive, longstanding relationship with Temple University Health System and are pleased to have their continued participation in our provider network,” said Joseph A. Frick, IBC’s president and CEO. “Teamwork, dedication, and an uncompromising commitment to improve the health of our members and our community are at the core of our progressive multi-year agreements with Temple, including a strong focus on rewarding quality performance through our quality-driven incentive program.”

IBC’s hospital pay-for-performance program provides TUHS an opportunity to earn additional compensation for delivering increasingly high-quality health care to IBC members. This merit-based compensation approach measures quantitative criteria that improve patient safety performance and quality of care, such as minimizing hospital-acquired infections and reducing surgical complications.

Within the last 18 months, Independence Blue Cross has successfully completed new contract arrangements with nearly 40 hospitals in its network and at least eight large health systems, now including TUHS, ensuring members access to a broad network of high-quality health care services. The new agreements with TUHS will provide IBC members with continued access to covered services provided by:

  • Temple University Hospital
  • Jeanes Hospital
  • Northeastern Hospital
  • Temple Physicians, Inc. and Senior Health Associates — a network of community-based physician practices
  • Temple Health System Transport Inc. — the health system’s ambulance services affiliate

In addition, members have access to Temple University Physicians because of an earlier agreement IBC reached this year with that group. Temple University Physicians is group of approximately 400 full-time and part-time faculty members of the Temple University School of Medicine, an affiliate of TUHS.

“We are pleased to have reached a fair and reasonable agreement that reflects our ongoing partnership in providing care with a focus on quality and patient safety,” said Joseph W. “Chip” Marshall, III, TUHS president and CEO. “We are proud to continue offering IBC members our tradition of excellence in many well-known, high-quality programs and services, such as lung care and pulmonary disorders, cardiac care, digestive disorders, oncology, orthopaedics, transplantation, and neurosciences — which have allowed us to grow as a premier health care institution regionally, and, in some cases, nationally.”

About Temple University Health System
Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a major academic health network and Employer of Choice dedicated to providing quality, safe care to the residents of the greater Philadelphia region. Affiliated with Temple University School of Medicine, TUHS consists of four healthcare-provider facilities (including Temple University Hospital, Jeanes Hospital, Northeastern Hospital, and Temple University Hospital — Episcopal campus); Temple Transport Team; and Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based physician practices. With more than 7,500 employees, Temple University Health System is a proud and responsible member of the Philadelphia community. To learn more about TUHS, visit us at www.templehealth.org.

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

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