HealthSpring Inc. has entered into a five-year agreement with HCA’s TriStar Health, a move allowing HealthSpring more time to implement new programs and execute on existing ones with TriStar’s more than 7,400 HealthSpring members.

TriStar officials say their members will benefit from HealthSpring’s patient resources, enhanced care coordination and strong emphasis on preventive care.

“Our best-in-class health services are made possible through strong partnerships with hospitals and doctors who share our commitment to quality care centered on personal attention, preventive care and total body wellness,” HealthSpring of Tennessee President Greg Allen said in a statement linked here. “HealthSpring’s new relationship with TriStar represents such a commitment and creates a collaborative environment where we and our physician partners can strive to continually improve patient care for our members.”

The agreement includes more than 70 TriStar primary care physicians and gives the patients of these doctors access to extra clinical, technology and education resources, including HealthSpring’s case management, pharmacy and nurse staff.

HealthSpring and TriStar physicians have been working together since September 2008, and the agreement, according to officials, represents a natural progression of HealthSpring’s physician engagement model.