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Press Release
Medica Partners with Essentia Health to Offer Innovative Health Plan
July 21, 2016
MINNETONKA, Minn. — Businesses in northern Minnesota, eastern North Dakota and northwestern Wisconsin will have a new option for health insurance coverage under a plan built on collaboration between Essentia Health and Medica.
It's called Essentia ChoiceCare with Medica and what makes the plan unique is that it gives employers the opportunity to have their health care provided by an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The plan will be available for a November 1, 2016, effective date for large group purchasers (51 or more employees) in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin and a January 1, 2017, effective date for small group purchasers in Minnesota and North Dakota (2-50 employees).
ACOs are networks of healthcare providers (such as clinics, hospitals, primary care doctors and specialists) that are able to collaborate with health plans to make health care more efficient and improve the patient experience. Essentia Health became an ACO in 2013 and is one of only three health systems in the U.S. to earn the highest possible level of accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
"When health plans and providers work directly together like this, it’s a win/win for employers and their employees," says Dr. Michael Van Scoy, Medical Director of Population Care Management for Essentia Health. "Employers are able to offer high quality health care to their workers at a lower cost, and employees can get the care they need, when they need it."
With Essentia Health's 15 hospitals and 68 clinics, employees enrolled in the new plan will have access to care in 50 communities — provided by a network of 1,800 physicians and advanced practitioners. In addition, enrollees will benefit from:
- Same day primary care appointments.
- Direct access to specialists – a member may see any primary or specialty care provider in the Essentia Health network without a referral.
- Essentia MyHealth – a secure online tool helps members track their health information and stay connected with their physician.
- Patient navigator – 24/7 dedicated customer service providing nurse triage and appointment scheduling.
- Single phone number – this one-stop-shop approach makes it easy for members to contact either Essentia Health or Medica. Service advisors can answer questions about health plan benefits, billing, care and coverage and can even help schedule appointments.
"Medica and Essentia Health share a commitment to deliver health care services that put members and patients first," says Scott Reid, Medica's Vice President for Commercial Product and Operations. "Our organizations will deliver on that commitment and give members the opportunity to directly benefit from an improved consumer experience at a lower cost."
About Essentia Health
Essentia Health, headquartered in Duluth, Minn., is an integrated health system serving patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Idaho. In 2013, Essentia was accredited as an Accountable Care Organization by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Essentia Health combines the strengths and talents of 14,000 employees, including nearly 1,800 physicians and advanced practitioners, whose mission is to provide high quality care while making patients feel known and understood.
Essentia Health, which includes many catholic facilities, is guided by the values of quality, hospitality, respect, justice, stewardship and teamwork. The organization delivers on its promise to be "Here With You" in 15 hospitals, 68 clinics, seven long-term care facilities, two assisted living facilities, four independent living facilities, five ambulance services and one research institute. More information is available at EssentiaHealth.org.
About Medica
Medica is a health services company headquartered in Minneapolis and active in the Upper Midwest. With approximately 1.7 million members, the non-profit company provides health care coverage in the employer, individual, Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Part D markets in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Medica also offers national network coverage to employers who also have employees outside the Medica regional network.
Medica's vision is to become the community's health plan of choice, trusted for its integrity, respected for its service, and admired for its commitment to innovation and efficiency. Medica partners with the communities it serves in many ways, including the Medica Foundation, a nonprofit, charitable grant-making foundation. The Medica Foundation, which provided $1.5 million in grants in 2015, generally seeks to fund community-based programs and initiatives that can provide sustainable, measurable improvements in the availability, access and quality of healthcare
Connect with Medica on Twitter @Medica4Me and Facebook @Medica4Me.
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Media Contact
Greg Bury
Senior Manager, Public Relations
952-992-8437
[email protected]