Brent Moore“/>Highmark skyscraper, Pittsburgh. Photo by Brent Moore
Highmark and HealthNow New York explained this 7 days they have agreed to affiliate, bringing jointly the two nonprofit Blue Cross Blue Defend wellbeing insurance policies programs that serve the communities of Western and Northeastern New York, as nicely as Highmark’s Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia areas.
The said intention of the affiliation is to push far better wellbeing results, manage expenditures, make improvements to affordability and strengthen engagement for customers and clinicians.
Underneath the terms of the affiliation arrangement, Highmark’s guardian company, Highmark Overall health, will become the key licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Defend Association for HealthNow’s proper-county Western New York and 13-county Northeastern New York services places, pending regulatory approvals and the fulfillment of other closing ailments.
What’s THE Impact
In a statement, Highmark explained users will obtain the positive aspects of more methods and breadth of choices “though preserving the local identity and concentration of a regional, mission-pushed company.”
The affiliation arrangement unanimously accepted by the respective wellbeing plans’ boards of administrators contains provisions that are intended to maintain HealthNow’s historic existence in Western and Northeastern New York. For example, HealthNow will keep its headquarters in Erie County, New York, as nicely as its regional workplace in Albany County.
HealthNow will be branded Highmark Blue Cross Blue Defend of Western New York and Highmark Blue Defend of Northeastern New York, preserving the wellbeing plan’s local identity.
In a nod to local influence above health care decisions and sustaining a local market existence, the entities explained they would keep careers in the local affiliate’s market, therefore reducing disruptions to the workforce. HealthNow Administrative Solutions, with locations in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and Sacramento, California will also be component of the proposed transaction, sustaining third party administrator services for far more than 100,000 customers.
With each other, Highmark and HealthNow offer wellbeing insurance policies programs that serve approximately 6 million users.
ON THE Record
“This affiliation is great for the folks and communities we serve,” explained David Anderson, president and CEO of HealthNow. “Highmark has a special enterprise product, organized all-around the principles of partnership involving payers and providers. In addition, Highmark has been a leader amid the Blues and in the broader field in building new capabilities and revolutionary Blue Cross Blue Defend merchandise from which our users and customers will benefit.”
“Highmark has a potent observe report of profitable associations and affiliations with other Blue Cross and Blue Defend businesses,” explained Deborah Rice-Johnson, president of Highmark. “This affiliation will maintain the potent existence of a not-for-gain Blue corporation that is dedicated to the wellbeing and vitality of the local communities it serves.”
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