GuideWell and Alignment Healthcare Create Strategic Medicare Advantage Partnership

-- Companies to establish centralized care management model to serve Florida seniors --

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Jul 06, 2015, 01:43 ET

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 6, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation (GuideWell) announced today that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Alignment Healthcare, LLC (Alignment Healthcare), a population health management company with technology-enabled clinical integration at its core. The new relationship is intended to improve clinical outcomes for Medicare Advantage members in Florida and positively impact overall health care costs.

Together, GuideWell and Alignment Healthcare will create senior-focused clinics in regions of Florida and feature an innovative, technology-enabled, patient-centered model of care, designed to reduce hospitalizations and improve clinical outcomes for medically needy elderly patients.

Utilizing proprietary technology, teams of physicians trained to manage the unique care needs of the most vulnerable patients in the community, will work in partnership with nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse care managers. They will act as advocates and care navigators for their patients, and manage the delivery of health care across multiple disciplines and treatment settings in coordination with primary care physicians.

To further serve the aging population in Florida, GuideWell has acquired BeHealthy America, Inc., a Florida-based Medicare Advantage Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). This acquisition further complements the Medicare Advantage offerings currently available through GuideWell's health insurance businesses. The new HMO product will combine an attractive benefits design with Alignment Healthcare's unique care delivery model, providing a more comprehensive level of care for a growing segment of Florida's Medicare Advantage customer base.

"As the health insurance market leader in the state, we are committed to helping Florida's seniors achieve and maintain better health," said René Lerer, M.D., president of GuideWell and Florida Blue.

"Our partnership with Alignment Healthcare allows us to create a unique Medicare Advantage HMO offering. This new plan will enhance our ability to deliver comprehensive, coordinated and high-quality care that is specifically designed to improve outcomes for vulnerable seniors, many of whom have complex clinical situations or multiple medical issues. In doing so, we will improve the lives of our Medicare Advantage members and create greater value in the health care system."

In their new partnership, GuideWell and Alignment Healthcare will implement a multi-phased rollout in Florida, under which the clinics will be established, and the newly acquired Medicare Advantage HMO plan made available to members. The initial phase, slated for January 2016, will include the Jacksonville, Sarasota and Tampa markets.

"Our collaborative partnership provides an unrivaled care coordination model with concierge level, personalized medicine for Medicare Advantage Plan beneficiaries. This partnership creates a new care standard in Florida for treating the individuals who need it most - especially those with chronic diseases," said John Kao, CEO for Alignment Healthcare. "GuideWell is a like-minded partner who aspires to improve access to care and coordination in the U.S."

About GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation
GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation is a not-for-profit mutual holding company that is the parent of a family of forward-thinking companies focused on transforming health care. The GuideWell companies include: Florida Blue (Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan); GuideWell Health (a healthcare delivery company); GuideWell Connect (a healthcare consumer marketing company); and Diversified Service Options (an administrative and claims processing company for state and federal health care programs). For more information, visit www.guidewell.com.

About Alignment Healthcare
Alignment Healthcare is dedicated to transforming the complex and confusing process of medical treatment so that every link in the healthcare continuum becomes more efficient, productive and effective. The company partners with providers, health plans, and hospitals to create a seamless, fast and easy-to-navigate healthcare experience, which results in happier, healthier and more satisfied patients. Based in Orange, California, Alignment Healthcare provides partners with a continuous end-to-end care program, including clinical care coordination, risk management capabilities, and IT enablement. For more information, visit www.ahcusa.com.

About BeHealthy America, Inc.
Located in Sarasota, Florida, BeHealthy is a community-based HMO plan with a Medicare contract. It serves members in Sarasota and Manatee counties by offering access to high-quality medical facilities and providers with a primary focus on improving medical outcomes. For more information, visit www.behealthyus.com.

SOURCE GuideWell