Anthem Blue Cross, Dignity Health Partner to Improve Health, Lower Employer Costs

Enhanced community based care delivery product

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--()--Anthem Blue Cross and Dignity Health, one of the largest hospital systems in the country, have collaborated to introduce a new tiered EPO/PPO plan designed to improve employee health and lower costs through an integrated care management system.

The Premier Tiered EPO/PPO product is designed for self-insured large groups, or employers with more than 101 employees and will launch on May 1, 2016 in Ventura County.

The plans are designed to offer choice and flexibility for employees who are members. They can select from either the Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) that provides the best price with a pre-determined network of high value Dignity Health providers, or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) which provides access to a wider range of providers to choose from at varying copay and cost share levels. The new product combines the managed care capabilities and expertise of both organizations, with a focus on clinical quality, access and efficiency of health care services.

“As health care providers, we understand the challenges employers face in managing health care access and cost of care,” said Duncan Ross, Dignity Health Vice President, Employer Relations. “This collaboration with Anthem creates a care management model that will help employers reduce costs and provide a better patient experience for their employees, and reflects our mission of service and commitment to our communities.”

The new product will launch initially in Ventura County. Product expansion is planned across select California geographies over the next 18 months.

Plan administration and reinsurance management is provided by one of the largest independent health services companies nationally in delivering exceptional service, superior data analytics and plan management.

“As health care continues to evolve, Anthem is committed to collaborating with providers to establish innovative partnerships to provide quality health care at an affordable price for large employers,” said Paige Rothermel, vice president and general manager, California large group for Anthem Blue Cross. “Dignity Health is a valued partner, and we look forward to expanding this relationship as we bring this product from the Central Coast to the Central Valley.”

The collaboration is the latest example of Anthem partnering with providers across the state to deliver better care at a more affordable price. Anthem launched Vivity, a partnership with seven hospital systems in Los Angeles and Orange counties in 2014, and has joined with 19 medical groups across the state to create Accountable Care Organizations, which financially reward medical groups for providing better health care.

About Anthem Blue Cross:

Anthem Blue Cross is the trade name of Blue Cross of California. Anthem Blue Cross and Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Association. Also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AskAnthem or www.twitter.com/AnthemPR_CA, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AskAnthem.

About Dignity Health

Dignity Health, one of the nation’s largest health care systems, is a 21-state network of 9,000 physicians, 59,000 employees, and more than 400 care centers, including hospitals, urgent and occupational care, imaging centers, home health, and primary care clinics. Headquartered in San Francisco, Dignity Health is dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, and affordable patient-centered care with special attention to the poor and underserved. In FY15, Dignity Health provided $1.7 billion in charitable care and services. For more information, please visit our website at www.dignityhealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Contacts

Anthem Blue Cross
Darrel Ng, (916) 403-0528
darrel.ng.@anthem.com
or
Dignity Health
Chad Burns, (415) 438-5650
chad.burns@dignityhealth.org

Contacts

Anthem Blue Cross
Darrel Ng, (916) 403-0528
darrel.ng.@anthem.com
or
Dignity Health
Chad Burns, (415) 438-5650
chad.burns@dignityhealth.org