BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, a health benefit plan company, will create a joint venture (JV) called Sanitas Medical Centers with Sanitas, a Keralty company, to open eight primary care medical centers across Middle and West Tennessee.

Slated to open in fall 2020, Sanitas Medical Centers is expected to expand access to primary care. This includes services for urgent care, preventive care, chronic disease management and improved care coordination.

The new medical centers are claimed to offer affordable and more convenient care, including same-day appointments, extended hours, and improved digital tools for making it easier to connect with medical center staff and care teams.

Scott Pierce – chief operating officer for BlueCross said: “As a mission-driven health plan, our members’ health is our top priority.

“We believe primary care is one of the best ways a person can pursue better health, and we have a history of investing in partnerships statewide. We’re excited to build on that work through this joint venture with Sanitas.”

BlueCross and Sanitas have selected sites in four Middle Tennessee communities -Brentwood, East Nashville, South Nashville, and Murfreesboro, and four Memphis locations – downtown Memphis, Germantown, Whitehaven, and Lakeland for the new Sanitas Medical Centers.

The new medical centers will exclusively cater to BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members, including BlueCare and Medicare members, and also self-pay patients.

Currently, Sanitas is operating primary care medical centers in partnership with other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans across Florida, Texas, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Sergio Martinez – Global CEO for Keralty said: “We’re excited to partner with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee to improve the health of communities in Tennessee.

“At Sanitas, patients will experience a holistic approach to care that emphasizes the connection of three fundamental pillars: health, social and community. By transforming relationships between patients and providers through trust and partnership, we deliver life-long commitments to better health.”

  BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Keralty, Sanitas, Sanitas Medical Centers, Scott Pierce, Sergio Martinez, Tennessee