New West expands services [Missoulian (MT)]

Western Montanans age 65 and older and people with disabilities who are eligible for Medicare now have a new health insurance option.

New West Health Services, a Montana-based Medicare Health Plan, has expanded its services beyond Community Medical Center to include St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula and St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson.

What it means is that clients in the New West Medicare Advantage network will now have access to physicians and services at the Providence Health & Services hospitals in Missoula and Poison, said Tanya Ask, New West spokesperson.

Network participation means members now can receive care from St. Patrick and St. Joseph hospitals and provider groups at the lower in-network rates.

Our plan provides full coverage - it's like having a traditional medical plan, plus supplement, plus a prescription drug plan all rolled into one," Ask said. "The benefit for the individuals is that they have lower out-of-pocket costs and it expands the patient choice in Missoula County."

The plan also includes access to services, such as cardiac care at St. Patrick Hospital, that clients may not have otherwise available, Ask explained.

The contracts with St. Patrick and St. Joseph are effective immediately.

The two hospitals are excited to be in-network partners, said Mark Wakai, regional operations and strategy officer for Providence Health & Services Western Montana.

"Our position is to continue to try and offer choice and provide value at lower cost to the individual," Wakai said. "And so we are pleased to make this decision and offer that to residents in the area."

With the expanded coverage, New West now includes 43 Montana hospitals and 4,300 medical professionals.

"New West is constantly striving to work with the provider community to improve quality, enhance the member experience and to make costs more sustainable for Montana'sMedicare-eligible population," said Leon Lamoreaux, New West president. "Adding St. Patrick and St. Joseph gives our Medicare Advantage customers additional options for care."

Individuals are eligible for the New West plan if they are 65 years of age or older, or if they have a disability and qualify for Medicare.

"The reason that this is important news for western Montana is because in Missoula, St. Patrick Hospital has a lot of internists - physicians who are more likely to see adults who are eligible for Medicare," Ask said.

New West is a health plan with a Medicare contract. It has operated in Montana since 1998, and holds a Montana health services corporation license. The company currently serves more than 11,600 Medicare members.

For more information about New West Medicare Advantage Plans, call 1-888-873-8044, or go to www.newwestmedicare.com.