Sarah Bush Lincoln Plans To Buy Former Blue Cross Building In Mattoon

When Blue Cross Blue Shield announced earlier this year that it was vacating its Mattoon facility at 201 Coles Center Parkway, it left a notable gap. Now, Sarah Bush Lincoln intends to fill it. This comes about after several years of expanding their footprint in Central Illinois, most notably their purchases of Bonutti Clinic and Fayette County Hospital. The question now? What do they plan to do with this new space…

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Systems has announced plans to purchase the former Blue Cross Blue Shield building in Mattoon, with the transaction expected to close in October. The acquisition is the latest in a string of local healthcare facility purchases by SBL and seemingly aligns with the organization’s strategy of growing its regional presence without the cost and timeline of new construction.

Sarah Bush Lincoln President and CEO Kim Uphoff framed the purchase as both a practical and community-driven decision. “This is an important investment in our community and in the future of healthcare in our region,” Uphoff said. “As our organization grows, our focus remains on recruiting specialists and expanding access to quality care close to home.” The building is expected to support provider recruitment and expanded access to specialty care, though specific services have not yet been announced.

For Mattoon, this news should be welcomed. The Blue Cross Blue Shield departure earlier this year raised questions about the future of the building, especially considering the age of it. Sarah Bush Lincoln stepping in keeps a major facility in active use and signals continued investment in their local healthcare infrastructure.

Additional details about services and plans for the facility will be released following the completion of the purchase which is again expected to finalize in October. What specialty services would you like to see brought to Mattoon?