BlueCross BlueShield of Georgia officials say they are still hoping to sign a contract with the Hospital Corporation of America, the parent company of Redmond Regional Medical Center in Rome and Cartersville Medical Center, to keep them as an in-network provider for health care service.

Some BCBS customers received a letter this week stating the insurance provider was notified by HCA that the contract had been terminated effective May 1.

That meant customers who used an HCA hospital could be charged by HCA for “over and above your plan allowance,” the letter said.

For HMO members, that means they have to use an in-network provider or be responsible for the full bill. For POS/PPO members, the share of out-of-network services would be greater.

The letter also included a list of alternative hospitals patients could use.

Redmond spokeswoman Callie Andrews said negotiations are still ongoing, and they were confident they would reach an agreement before the May 1 deadline.

In a prepared statement, BCBS officials said: “Although we are currently negotiating with HCA, HCA has chosen to terminate its hospital contracts with BCBSGa effective May 1, 2012, before negotiations have been fully exhausted. BCBSGa has ensured that the services rendered at HCA hospitals are available at other quality in-network area hospitals.”

Emergency care at HCA hospitals will still be available to BCBSGa, said spokes­woman Cheryl T. Monkhouse.

HCA has seven other hospitals in Georgia besides Redmond and CMC: Fair­view Park Hospital in Dublin; Doctors Hospital in Augusta; Coliseum Medical Center, Coliseum Northside Hospital and Coliseum Psychiatric Hospital, all in Macon; and Eastside Medical Center in Snellville.