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Lovelace Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico reached a new four-year deal Monday, a move that averts coverage disruption for thousands of patients just days before the previous agreement was set to expire.

In announcing the new deal, the companies said Lovelace鈥檚 patients who use Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, or BCBSNM, insurance 鈥� including all commercial, individual and family, Medicare Advantage and Turquoise Medicaid plans 鈥� can continue to access the health system鈥檚 services at in-network rates.

鈥淭his agreement is about stability for the patients and communities who count on us every day,鈥� Lovelace President and CEO Cliff Wilson said in a statement. 鈥淥ur teams worked to reach a solution that preserves uninterrupted access to care while also recognizing the resources required to sustain high-quality healthcare in New Mexico.鈥�

Roughly 700,000 people are insured by BCBSNM, which is one of the state鈥檚 managed care organizations for its Turquoise Care Medicaid program. About 79,000 Lovelace patients were insured by BCBSNM as of last year, said Whitney Alcantar, a spokesperson for the health system. 

In an interview last week, as negotiations were underway, Dr. Vesta Sandoval, Lovelace鈥檚 chief medical officer, said patients were expressing concern about whether a deal would be reached before a June 1 deadline 鈥� the day the current deal would have expired.

Sandoval said negotiations between the two parties began in February. Before the agreement, she said, BCBSNM was paying Lovelace less than other insurers 鈥� those companies negotiate separate in-network rates with health systems, which means payouts can vary significantly from one plan to the next 鈥� but did not discuss further details.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not asking for extra 鈥� we鈥檙e just asking to be on that level playing field,鈥� Sandoval said.

It is unclear whether the new deal has leveled up that playing field. Lovelace and Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico didn't discuss the terms of the deal. 

鈥淏CBSNM has supported our members and communities for more than 85 years and we value our long-standing relationship with Lovelace Health System,鈥� BCBSNM President Janice Torrez said in a statement. 鈥淥ur customers are our priority, and we were able to reach an agreement with LHS that protects our members鈥� access to quality care.鈥�

Lovelace, one of the state鈥檚 three major health systems along with Presbyterian Healthcare Services and the University of New Mexico Health System, runs five hospitals and dozens of clinics.

The health system has also made a jump into the urgent-care market, purchasing six NextCare Urgent Care locations 鈥� four in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, one in Rio Rancho and another in Taos 鈥� in 2025. It also opened an urgent care in Bernalillo late last year.  

Gregory R.C. Hasman covers the economy and healthcare. He can be reached at ghasman@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3820.