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Date: Thursday, April 17, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: HCFA Press Office (202) 690-6145

Trailblazer Health Enterprises, Inc. Named as New Medicare Part B Carrier

The Health Care Financing Administration today announced the selection of Trailblazer Health Enterprises, Inc. as the new Medicare Part B carrier for the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and Delaware. Trailblazer Health Enterprises is currently the carrier for most of Maryland and Texas. It serves Texas under its corporate name, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, but will conduct business as Trailblazer Health Enterprises in the new jurisdictions.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas is one of the largest Medicare carriers in the program and has a proven record as a Medicare carrier, both in Texas and in Maryland.

"HCFA staff is working to guarantee a smooth transition to the new carrier," said HCFA Administrator Bruce C. Vladeck. "Both the incoming and outgoing carriers are cooperating fully, and Medicare beneficiaries and providers can be assured there will be no interruption of service." Xact Medicare Services, which currently serves as the carrier in these jurisdictions, as well as for Pennsylvania and New Jersey, announced in February that it was modifying its current role in the Medicare fee-for-service program by discontinuing Medicare claims processing for Delaware and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. HCFA anticipates that the transition to Trailblazer will be completed by the end of 1997. Xact will continue processing Medicare Part B claims in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.