A contract dispute that prevented patients covered by insurance policies from Coventry Health Care from using HCA Virginia Health System hospitals has been resolved.

HCA is the parent company of Salem-based LewisGale Regional Health System. Because of the expired contract, patients with Coventry insurance were told that they could not seek inpatient treatment at any of the for-profit system's hospitals, including the four in Southwest Virginia.

The two reached an agreement Wednesday, two months after the previous contract expired, LewisGale spokeswoman Nancy May said. The contract dispute did not affect outpatient services at surgery centers, imaging centers or physician offices, May said.

The new contract covers hospital services for all Coventry products, which are known by names, including Southern Health and CareNet.

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Coventry Health Care, HCA Virginia Health System settle insurance coverage dispute - http://www.roanoke.com