Jacksonville, Fla. -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) and its subsidiary Health Options, Inc. and Miami Children’s Hospital have announced a two-year contract agreement that will allow the two companies to continue to meet the health care needs of South Floridians. The agreement follows several weeks of negotiations and the two-week extension of an original contract termination deadline. 

“Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is pleased that we have reached an agreement with Miami Children’s Hospital that will benefit our members, Miami Children’s patients and the entire community,” said Barry B. Schwartz, M.D., BCBSF vice president, network management. 

“I am pleased that Miami Children’s Hospital and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida have reached this agreement. MCH is a tier one provider for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and its subsidiary Health Options, Inc. ensuring that South Florida’s children and families have complete access to the area’s premier children’s hospital,” said Thomas M. Rozek, President and CEO of Miami Children’s Hospital. 

“I am pleased that Miami Children’s Hospital and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida have reached this agreement. MCH is a tier one provider for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and its subsidiary Health Options, Inc. ensuring that South Florida’s children and families have complete access to the area’s premier children’s hospital,” said Thomas M. Rozek, President and CEO of Miami Children’s Hospital. 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in Florida’s health industry. BCBSF and its subsidiaries serve more than 8.6 million people. 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 Web site at www.bcbsfl.com. 

Founded in 1950, Miami Children's Hospital is a tier-one provider and is the only licensed children’s hospital for children in South Florida. Ranked Miami–Dade County’s “Best Pediatric Hospital” by South Florida Parenting Magazine, Miami Children's Hospital offers medical care and services for children from birth to age 21. The 275-bed medical facility has expertise in all aspects of pediatric medicine.