Southern Arizona health care consumers will continue to enjoy a choice in providers following a contract signed recently between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), Northwest Medical Center and Oro Valley Hospital.

From Yuma to York and New River to Nogales, the three-year agreement serves to guarantee members in southern Arizona a continued choice of health care practitioners on the local level via BCBSAZ's statewide and group HMO, PPO and Medicare Advantage networks.

"It is important that BCBSAZ members have access to providers who offer a range of health care services and focus on delivering great care while managing the cost of care - and this three-year commitment with Northwest and Oro Valley ensures they do," BCBSAZ Vice President of Network Management Marcus Montoya said.

BCBSAZ serves over 1.4 million consumers from its offices in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson and the East Valley, with over 1,400 Arizonan employees. BCBSAZ works in tandem with individual doctors, hospitals and associated providers to negotiate mutually acceptable terms for reimbursements.

"This agreement is the result of our organizations working together toward the same goal – providing affordable, quality care to our community," Northwest Medical Center CEO Kevin Stockton said.