Health Integrated Helps New Health Insurance Cooperative Go Live

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Integrated, Inc., a recognized innovator in care management strategies for vulnerable, fragile and at-risk individuals, has partnered with Meritus (dba Meritus Mutual Health Partners (PPO) and Meritus Health Partners (HMO)), Arizona's first and only consumer-operated and oriented (Co-Op) insurance plan, to deliver its full care management platform for the plan and its members. Meritus will begin enrolling new members in October 2013 for coverage beginning January 1, 2014.

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"Starting a new health plan from ground zero requires strong and compatible partners to keep a keen eye on the consumer-focused details while paying close attention to the big operational and regulatory picture at the same time," says Kathleen Oestreich, chief executive officer of Meritus. "We are delighted to have that partner in Health Integrated. As we move through our implementation, they have proven repeatedly their alignment with our mission to change the face of health care with better, more coordinated care for our Arizona members."

For Meritus, Health Integrated is providing a full suite of care management services on a state-of-the-art care management platform, including:

• Health Risk Assessments
• Chronic Condition Management
• Case Management (Medical and Behavioral)
• Utilization Management (Medical and Behavioral)
• 24/7 Behavioral Health Crisis Line

"We're not just about paying claims," adds Oestreich. "We want to shake things up in health care and be that truly different plan that is all about delivering the best care overall for our members and better health for our community. This means getting back to what health care is all about, by giving our members the quality they demand, the care they seek and the dignity they deserve. With Health Integrated, we can focus on our mission very clearly while they help us with the heavy lifting of building systems and processes to support our goals."

"Being able to support the launch of a new health plan is very exciting," says Shan Padda, chairman and chief executive officer of Health Integrated. "Our partnership with Meritus provides an opportunity to do health care right. Our organizations agree philosophically that we are here to provide our members a framework and community that leads to optimal, holistic, effective and compassionate healing. If we help our patients get well and stay well by addressing not just their medical, but behavioral and social support needs as well, we all win."

Meritus, one of 24 health insurance Co-Ops nationwide, will compete on the new federally-run online Health Insurance Marketplace as well as in the commercial insurance market to individuals, families, businesses and entrepreneurs.

About Meritus

Meritus is an Arizona member-governed non-profit health insurance model operating as a CO-OP (Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan) established through a loan provision from HHS under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Meritus has worked with The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the past year to establish the company as well with the State Department of Insurance for state licensing requirements. The company was created to provide more accessible and affordable health insurance coverage options to individuals, families and small businesses so that we can work together for better health. Our goal is to help people make better choices for their healthcare.

Meritus products and services are provided through Meritus Mutual Health Partners (a PPO) and Meritus Health Partners (an HMO).

Meritus is based in Tempe, Ariz., and is organized as a non-profit.

For more information, please visit www.meritusaz.com.

About Health Integrated

Health Integrated is leading the reform of our healthcare ecosystem by changing the behavior of its participants to protect our most vulnerable members.

Understanding and addressing the relationship of behavioral, social and medical needs of the individuals we serve permeates our DNA. Working with Medicare, Medicaid, Dual-Eligible and Commercial plan members nationwide, we bring to bear innovative care management strategies enabled by differentiated technologies to drive better health outcomes, higher member satisfaction and lower health care costs.

For more information, please visit www.healthintegrated.com.

CONTACT: Suzanne Dudzik Janczak
Director, Marketing
813-388-4040
[email protected]

SOURCE Health Integrated, Inc.