Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cambia Health Solutions affiliate

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Portland, Ore.-based Cambia Health Solutions announced Thursday (Nov. 6) that they have signed a definitive agreement to form a strategic affiliation. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The venture will bring Arkansas Blue Cross into a Cambia network that includes other state Blue Cross affiliates. Arkansas Blue Cross CEO Curtis Barnett told Talk Business & Politics that the agreement will allow Arkansas’ largest health insurance provider to gain efficiencies from shared costs and to participate in larger projects that could result in health savings.

“With a strong focus here in the state of Arkansas, because Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield does not go away, this is a contractual relationship that we’re entering into,” he said. “So each of the entities remain independent. We continue to have our own fiduciary boards of directors that will help govern our organization. So really we’re just coming together in a contractual way where we can share and share in a very impactful way.”

Barnett will be a guest on this week’s Talk Business & Politics television program. You can view his interview below.

He said nothing will change for customers in terms of interfacing with Blue Cross. The name of the company remains intact, branding remains in place, the board of directors will stay the same, and Blue Cross’ foundation, the Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, will not be altered.

Barnett also said he thinks the affiliation will result in savings in the future. Arkansas Blue Cross reported $226 million loss last year.

“It won’t affect their health insurance,” he said. “Their Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield card will continue to work for them. They’ll continue to be served by the same people locally that they’ve always been served by. That doesn’t change.”

“We think as we look into the future, we’re going to be able to create more value for our customers,” Barnett added. “And so when you think about rising health care costs and what’s driving those cost increases today, our ability to work with new analytics, new processes around how can we make sure that those services are appropriate and they’re cost effective when they are provided new payment models, all those things are going to be a part of this. Then new technology that will allow us to help our members be better navigators of health care, be better purchasers of health care, and really empower them in ways that maybe we haven’t been able to in the past.”

Cambia operates local health plans will in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. It serves about 3.6 million people in those states and has approximately 4,600 employees. Arkansas Blue Cross serves 1.9 million customers and employs roughly 3,200 people.

“Health care is changing quickly; to ensure we continue to be well positioned to serve our members now and into the future we must evolve in completely new ways,” Barnett said. “Joining with Cambia preserves the critical mission of nonprofit community-focused health insurance. Together, we will continue to support members with local expertise and ensure every health care dollar is spent wisely.”

Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross is Arkansas’s largest health insurance company. Arkansas Blue Cross specializes in managing complex national accounts and offers diverse health plans and wellness programs to serve Arkansans, including those that meet the needs of rural communities.

“This affiliation brings together two organizations with a shared purpose: to be a catalyst for transforming health care,” said Jared Short, president and CEO of Cambia. “By combining our strengths, we are expanding our ability to innovate for our customers, developing new solutions that make care simpler, more accessible, affordable and centered on the people we serve. Together we are building on our shared history of service and advancing a future where health care works better for everyone.”

The strategic affiliation is subject to regulatory approval in Arkansas and is expected to close in 2026.

In August 2025, Cambia announced a similar agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

You can watch Barnett’s full interview with Talk Business & Politics in the video link below.