Deadline Moved to July 31 on CHRISTUS/BCBS Contract Dispute

CHRISTUS Health Patients in East Texas Face Potential Insurance Disruption Amid Contract Dispute

July 1, 2025 – After months of contract negotiations, CHRISTUS Health patients across East Texas have been notified that their access to in-network care may soon be disrupted. In recent days, many patients received letters stating that CHRISTUS Health may no longer be part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) network.

The notice comes as the two organizations continue negotiating a new agreement. The original contract was set to expire on June 30, but both parties agreed to a one-month extension, pushing the deadline to July 31, 2025. If a deal is not reached by then, thousands of patients could be forced to find new in-network providers or face higher out-of-pocket costs to continue seeing their CHRISTUS physicians and specialists.

CHRISTUS Health, which operates hospitals, clinics, and specialty care facilities across the region, has framed the dispute as an effort to secure fair reimbursement rates to sustain quality care for local communities. Blue Cross Blue Shield, meanwhile, says it is trying to keep premiums affordable for its members.

Both sides say they remain at the table, but patients are caught in the middle—uncertain if their care will be covered next month. Further updates are expected as negotiations continue.