Baptist Health South Florida and Medica HealthCare Plans Extend Relationship

Business Wire

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Baptist Health South Florida and Medica HealthCare Plans (Medica) today announced that they have renewed their agreement, extending their long-term relationship and reflecting their shared commitment to making it easier for South Florida residents enrolled in Medicare to access the health care services they need.

South Florida residents enrolled in Medica Medicare Advantage plans have had in-network access to care at Baptist Health hospitals and outpatient facilities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties as well as from the organization’s affiliated physicians for the past decade, since Medica was established. The renewed relationship ensures continued, uninterrupted in-network access for Medica members.

“Medicare open enrollment is the time of year when people are looking over the many insurance plans available, asking whether their physicians and hospitals are included. This long-term agreement will help to ensure Medica Medicare Advantage members have continued access to Baptist Health South Florida,” said Ralph Lawson, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Baptist Health. “This relationship is a positive cultural fit between our two organizations, because we share the same common goal of making health care easier in what has become a complex landscape.”

“After many years of working together with Baptist Health to serve the health care needs of people in South Florida, we felt it was important to commit together to serve Medica members and other Medicare beneficiaries in South Florida for the long term,” said Roger Rodriguez, chief executive officer of UnitedHealthcare South Florida.

As part of the renewed agreement, Baptist Health South Florida and Medica will continue collaborating to improve care coordination and enhance health services. The organizations’ work together will help shift Florida’s health care system to one that rewards quality and value.

Medica became part of UnitedHealthcare in 2012 following an acquisition that established UnitedHealthcare South Florida. Serving nearly one in five Medicare beneficiaries, UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement and Part D prescription drug plans nationally. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 3.4 million people in Florida, including more than 1 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Individuals enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s commercial, individual and Medicaid plans will have continued in-network access to Baptist Health.

Baptist Health South Florida also contracts with other Medicare Advantage plans.

About Baptist Health South Florida

Baptist Health is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with seven hospitals (Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children’s Hospital, Doctors Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, South Miami Hospital and West Kendall Baptist Hospital) and nearly 50 outpatient and urgent care facilities spanning three counties. The not-for-profit Baptist Health has approximately 16,000 employees and 2,200 affiliated physicians, and also includes Baptist Health Medical Group, Baptist Outpatient Services and internationally renowned centers of excellence. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization’s fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities. Baptist Health was listed by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America (#23 in the nation) and has remained on the list for 15 years. It was also recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the fifth year in a row by the Ethisphere Institute. Visit BaptistHealth.net.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, military service members, retirees and their families, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 850,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @myUHC on Twitter.