NKC Health, Blue KC New Agreement Ensures Member Access to Facilities

NKC Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City reached a new agreement for members effective June 1, 2026. Photo credit: NKC Health.

Posted June 1, 2026

NKC Health and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City have entered into a new agreement that ensures Blue KC members access to NKC Health facilities and providers.

The agreement will go into effect on June 1, according to a release.

“Keeping our patients at the center of every decision guided us throughout this process,” Dr. Stephen Reintjes Sr., president & CEO of NKC Health, said in the release. “We are pleased to continue to provide access to Blue KC members.”

In January, Reintjes was selected by the Missouri Hospital Association (MHA) for the role of chair of its 2026 Board of Trustees. MHA is a non-profit that represents 137 hospitals across the state and provides education on key health issues.

Patients insured through Blue KC will now have uninterrupted in-network access to NKC Health services. The agreement reflects both not-for-profit organizations’ commitment to providing access to quality healthcare while helping to manage costs for the Kansas City community.

“We have reached an agreement that is fair, reasonable and designed to keep quality healthcare affordable for our employer groups and members while continuing to partner with NKC Health,” Jenny Housley, President of Blue KC, said in the release.

In March, Blue KC announced it had received regulatory approval to affiliate with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Highmark Inc. Under the new affiliation, Blue KC will be a locally governed, nonprofit company in Kansas City and gain access to new technologies and resources. The affiliation integration is expected to take place over a phased period of time.