DURHAM, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has agreed to acquire all North Carolina-based locations of FastMed. This would enable FastMed and Blue Cross NC, two North Carolina companies, to work together to fortify health care capacity in the state so North Carolinians have access to critical points of quality, affordable care.  

FastMed
provides a wide range of care options, including preventive, telehealth, occupational health, primary, and urgent care. Blue Cross NC and FastMed would collaborate on and invest in ways to further enhance the patient experience at North Carolina FastMed locations. 
 

This pending acquisition builds on Blue Cross NC’s existing investments and our longstanding commitment to making health care more affordable, accessible, and easier to navigate. With this next step, these locations can continue to be a critical resource in North Carolina communities, including those facing provider shortages. 
 

Like other health care providers,
FastMed has felt the impacts of provider shortages that were magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2016-2021, North Carolina lost about 9% of its direct care workforce. As the health care industry continues to change rapidly, new partnerships and affiliations to improve patient health and lower health care costs are more commonplace. Blue Cross NC’s short-term plans for FastMed would include returning to pre-pandemic service operations. 
 

“With approximately half of
FastMed’s clinics located in rural areas of our state with limited access to health care resources, this is an important investment in North Carolina,” said Tunde Sotunde, Blue Cross NC’s CEO. “This pending acquisition would fortify critical access points of care across the state and would benefit everyone, not just Blue Cross NC members. As a North Carolina-based, mission-driven, fully taxed, not-for-profit company, we serve all North Carolinians.” 
 

This pending acquisition is
planned to close in early 2024. Blue Cross NC, which has been a non-controlling minority investor in FastMed since 2012, has agreed to acquire only FastMed’s North Carolina locations. FastMed would operate independently from Blue Cross NC, which is a fully taxed not-for-profit company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. FastMed would continue to serve all North Carolinians and those visiting the state, not just Blue Cross NC members. Blue Cross NC members can search for in-network care locations through the Blue Connect portal
. The completion of this pending acquisition is subject to the fulfillment of customary closing conditions.