Health co-op signs managed care deals with Covenant, Tennova [The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.]

July 08--Community Health Alliance said Monday it has signed managed care agreements with two East Tennessee health systems and a rural hospital in West Tennessee.

Covenant Health, which operates seven area acute care hospitals and a psychiatric facility, and Tennova Healthcare, which includes six acute care hospitals, have agreed to be part of the nonprofit's preferred provider network when its policies become available on the health insurance exchange this fall.

The third is with Decatur County General Hospital, a 40-bed not-for-profit, county-owned facility in Parsons, Tenn. It is the first rural hospital to enter into a collaborative partnership with Community Health Alliance, a Tennessee Consumer Operated and Owned Plan, or CO-OP.

Community Health Alliance has signed hundreds of providers as it continues to build its network across the state, spokeswoman Ranee Randby said. Covenant and Tennova are among its largest groups. Recently, the alliance announced an agreement with East Tennessee physicians group Summit Medical Group and Baptist Memorial Health Care in West Tennessee.

Community Health Alliance is a nonprofit insurance company created as part of the Affordable Care Act, which requires people without health insurance to buy it or face penalties.

In May the CO-OP received a license to operate as a health insurance company in the state by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Starting Oct. 1, residents will be able to shop the CO-OP's products on the state's health insurance exchange.

Coverage for health plans will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

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