Baptist Health South Florida and Medica HealthCare Plans (Medica) today
announced that they have renewed their agreement, extending their
long-term relationship and reflecting their shared commitment to making
it easier for South Florida residents enrolled in Medicare to access the
health care services they need.
South Florida residents enrolled in Medica Medicare Advantage plans have
had in-network access to care at Baptist Health hospitals and outpatient
facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties as well as from the
organization’s affiliated physicians for the past decade, since Medica
was established. The renewed relationship ensures continued,
uninterrupted in-network access for Medica members.
“Medicare open enrollment is the time of year when people are looking
over the many insurance plans available, asking whether their physicians
and hospitals are included. This long-term agreement will help to ensure
Medica Medicare Advantage members have continued access to Baptist
Health South Florida,” said Ralph Lawson, executive vice president and
chief financial officer of Baptist Health. “This relationship is a
positive cultural fit between our two organizations, because we share
the same common goal of making health care easier in what has become a
complex landscape.”
“After many years of working together with Baptist Health to serve the
health care needs of people in South Florida, we felt it was important
to commit together to serve Medica members and other Medicare
beneficiaries in South Florida for the long term,” said Roger Rodriguez,
chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare South Florida.
As part of the renewed agreement, Baptist Health South Florida and
Medica will continue collaborating to improve care coordination and
enhance health services. The organizations’ work together will help
shift Florida’s health care system to one that rewards quality and value.
Medica became part of UnitedHealthcare in 2012 following an acquisition
that established UnitedHealthcare South Florida. Serving nearly one in
five Medicare beneficiaries, UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of
Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement and Part D prescription drug
plans nationally. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 3.4 million people
in Florida, including more than 1 million Medicare beneficiaries.
Individuals enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s commercial, individual and
Medicaid plans will have continued in-network access to Baptist Health.
Baptist Health South Florida also contracts with other Medicare
Advantage plans.
About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region,
with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital,
Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami
Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and nearly 50 outpatient and
urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit
Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated
physicians, and also includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist
Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence.
Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports
services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health was listed by
Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America
(#23 in the nation) and has remained on the list for 15 years. It was
also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the
fifth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute. Visit BaptistHealth.net.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live
healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting
consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships
with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health
benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members,
retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries,
and contracts directly with more than 850,000 physicians and care
professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide.
UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group
(NYSE:UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For
more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com
or follow @myUHC on Twitter.
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