Effective July 1, 2025, primary care physicians in First Physicians Group will no longer participate with Medicare Advantage plans offered through Florida Blue or any other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans (commonly referred to as out-of-state plans). This change applies only to primary care providers and only to patients with Florida Blue/Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans. It does NOT apply to FPG specialty physicians or any services provided at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s inpatient and outpatient facilities.

If your plan is impacted by this change, we understand you will have questions and concerns. Below, you will find answers to frequently asked questions and additional contacts to help guide you through this change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans are affected by the pending change?
The change applies to all Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans and any Medicare Advantage plan offered through another Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan, but only for primary care providers. FPG specialists and Sarasota Memorial Health Care System inpatient and outpatient facilities will remain in-network.

***The change also will NOT affect people with original Medicare and Medicare Traditional Supplemental plans.

Q: I don’t have a Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plan, but my Medicare Advantage plan is through another Blue Cross plan. Can I still see an FPG primary care provider?

No, this change impacts all Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans in all states.

Q: I have an appointment with an FPG primary care physician after July 1, 2025.  What can I do?

 If your current appointment is after July 1, 2025, we can try to move your appointment to an earlier date.

Q: What if I’m undergoing treatment for cancer or other serious illness/injury that requires ongoing care from my FPG primary care physician?
We will do everything we can to support and ensure continuity of care for patients currently under care with an FPG primary care provider. Members undergoing care from an FPG provider that should not be interrupted or delayed, have the right to request that their Blue Cross and Blue Shield or Florida Blue Medicare plans continue to cover their primary care services at FPG as an “in-network” provider. In such cases, we can help you request a “continuity of care” authorization from Florida Blue or their out-of-state Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan. Please see the contact number for FPG below.

Note: Florida Blue has assured us that it will continue to honor all referrals and orders made by FPG primary care physicians prior to July 1, 2025. Out-of-state Blue Cross and Blue Shield members should contact their respective Medicare Advantage plan for more information on referrals and authorizations.

Q: How serious is this situation? 
We were informed that the change is part of Florida Blue’s plans to adjust their primary care network due to changes in the Medicare Advantage industry. Please contact the insurer for more information.

Q: Is there anything I can do to keep my FPG physician/care providers?
Our highest priority is ensuring our community and patients have access to high quality, reliable health care. Our team is reaching out to FPG patients impacted by this decision and providing information and contact numbers to help them plan for their future medical needs.

Florida Blue and other Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare Advantage members who have been patients of FPG’s primary care in the last three years should receive a letter from FPG notifying them of the change, along with a list of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans that First Physicians Group has participating provider agreements as of July 1, 2025. A link to that list is available below. www.firstphysiciansgroup.com/insurances

Florida Blue and other Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plan members may be eligible to change plans and keep their FPG physician through a special enrollment period permitted by Medicare when significant changes are made to their plan’s provider network. Special enrollment periods are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Typically, impacted members will have two months to change to another plan or switch to original Medicare during a special enrollment period. They can also switch back to original Medicare during the Medicare Open Enrollment period (October 15 – December 7 each year) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period (January 1 – March 31 each year). If you have questions or need help making enrollment changes, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.

Health Insurances Accepted as of July 1, 2025

For information about insurance plans accepted by First Physicians Group, please go to www.firstphysiciansgroup.com/insurances.

Contact Information
If you have questions about whether you qualify for in-network coverage for continued care and services with an FPG primary care physician, please contact Florida Blue or your Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan (their number should be on your health insurance card).

If you have questions about how this impacts care provided by your FPG primary care physician, please contact our central office at (941) 917-2600, weekdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Our team will provide any assistance we can to ensure you have uninterrupted access to high-quality care.