AmeriHealth Mercy Becomes AmeriHealth Caritas

PHILADELPHIA, April 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, a national leader in Medicaid managed care and other health care solutions for the underserved, today announced that it has chosen AmeriHealth Caritas as its new company name. "Caritas" is Latin for "charity" and embodies the 30-year legacy of caring that AmeriHealth has established in several states and communities across the country. AmeriHealth Caritas is a majority-owned subsidiary of Independence Blue Cross; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan holds a minority interest.

"AmeriHealth Caritas' legacy of caring – which is captured in its new name – led to its becoming a nationally respected expert in care management in government-funded programs," said Dan Hilferty, president and chief executive officer of Independence Blue Cross, which serves 7 million people nationwide. "Consider the proof: as a result of AmeriHealth Caritas' passion for serving the hard-to-reach and chronically ill, membership increased by almost one-third in the past 15 months."

AmeriHealth Caritas began as Mercy Health Plan in West Philadelphia in 1982 to meet the growing need for quality care for the underserved, many of whom turned to emergency rooms as their primary source of care.

Today, AmeriHealth Caritas is an experienced leader in government-funded programs, operating in 13 states and serving more than 4.7 million Medicaid, Medicare and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members through its integrated Medicaid managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management services, behavioral health services and other administrative services.

Said Michael A. Rashid, president and chief executive officer of AmeriHealth Caritas, "Care is at the heart of our work. Our mission-focused approach to care management has helped to improve the lives of Medicaid beneficiaries living in urban and rural communities across the nation for 30 years. Our exciting new name heralds a new era of caring for our company."

An Emerging Leader in Government-Funded Health Care
AmeriHealth Caritas' integrated, outcomes-based, compassionate approach to care has helped beneficiaries better manage their chronic illnesses while providing states with attractive solutions for providing access to quality health care for their underserved populations.  

As a result, more states are turning to AmeriHealth Caritas for government-funded health care solutions. Since January 2012, AmeriHealth Caritas doubled the number of states in which it serves Medicaid full-risk members to six and saw its Medicaid full-risk membership increase on an organic basis by 28 percent. Specifically, the company achieved the following:

• LaCare in Louisiana, part of the state's Bayou Health program, began enrolling members on February 1, 2012.  To date, LaCare serves more than 154,000 members in parishes throughout the state.
• Arbor Health Plan was launched on July 1, 2012 to serve eligible beneficiaries living in 83 counties in rural Nebraska.  Arbor currently provides services to more than 22,000 members throughout the state.
• The company also won new business as part of the expansion of Pennsylvania's HealthChoices program and now serves 53 of the state's 67 counties.
• Florida True Health was recently approved by Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration  to serve Florida's Medicaid beneficiaries in Volusia County as Florida TrueBlue. Florida True Health is a joint venture between AmeriHealth and Florida Blue.

Additionally, in October 2012, the company was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to offer Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) to dual-eligible beneficiaries in select counties in Pennsylvania and South Carolina.  The company launched two Medicare D-SNP plans in Pennsylvania and one in South Carolina.  All three plans began enrolling new members on January 1, 2013. D-SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans for dual-eligibles, or individuals whose combination of income, health status and age makes them eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. There are approximately 9 million dual-eligibles in the United States. About $350 billion is spent each year on health care for this population.

About AmeriHealth Caritas

AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation's leaders in health care solutions for the underserved. AmeriHealth Caritas operates in 13 states and serves more than 4.7 million Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP members through its integrated Medicaid managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management services, behavioral health services and other administrative services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven company with 30 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.

CONTACT:Michelle Davidson          (215) 863-6364          [email protected]

Source: Amerihealth Mercy Family