Independence Blue Cross and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Reach Seven-Year...( PHILADELPHIA March 4 /- Independe...),Health

PHILADELPHIA, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia announced today that they have reached a new seven-year agreement. A term of this length is unusual in this market and a first in the history of this key partnership. The extended contract will strengthen the effective and long-standing relationship between Independence and Children's Hospital, serving the special health care needs of children in the Philadelphia region. The new agreement's term begins July 1, 2008, and continues through June 30, 2015.

"This landmark agreement reinforces our shared commitment to providing high quality health care and ensures that the doors to Children's Hospital will continue to be open to our members' children," said Joseph A. Frick, president and CEO of Independence Blue Cross. "This relationship allows us to provide access to a remarkable institution which, year after year, is recognized as one of the most widely-respected children's hospitals and research facilities in the world."

Frick noted that Children's Hospital was ranked in 2007 as the best hospital for children for the fifth consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report.

"Independence Blue Cross and Children's Hospital share similar philosophies about improving health care for the community and collaborating on quality of care in ways that will benefit hundreds of thousands of children's lives," Frick said. "We are very pleased that the new contract calls out this significant commitment to quality and we will monitor and measure our joint collaboration on projects that will address children's health care issues, such as asthma, juvenile diabetes, and childhood obesity."

"We are pleased to continue our long-term, solid relationship with Independence Blue Cross and our joint commitment to serving children in our community," said Steven M. Altschuler, M.D., president and CEO of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
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