Tenet Healthcare Corporation  announced today that its two hospitals in Philadelphia, Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, have reached agreement in principle on terms of new contracts. Extended their current agreements while they define terms for new multi-year contracts. Hahnemann and St. Christopher’s are both part of Tenet Healthcare Corporation’s national network of hospitals.

Members of IBC will continue to have access to health care services offered at the two hospitals, their outpatient centers and employed physician practices. Michael P. Halter, chief executive officer of Hahnemann University Hospital, said we are pleased to reach an agreement that avoids a potentially disruptive contract termination for our patients. This extension of  agreement can continue providing care to our patients who are covered by Independence Blue Cross.”

Bernadette Mangan, chief executive officer of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, said, “We welcome the opportunity to continue working with Independence Blue Cross to provide quality care for their members.”

Steven Udvarhelyi, chief medical officer and senior vice president of Independence Blue Cross. “We value our longstanding relationship with Hahnemann and St. Christopher’s Hospitals and are pleased that we have achieved an understanding as the basis for a new agreement".

Since mid-year 2007, Tenet announced multi-year national agreements with Aetna , CIGNA and UnitedHealthcare as well as additional regional contracts including Blue Cross of California, Coventry, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.