Oak Street Health to Expand into Flint, Michigan to Deliver Quality Healthcare in Partnership with Health Alliance Plan

CHICAGO, April 3, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Oak Street Health, a network of centers that provide innovative primary care services to Medicare recipients, will bring a uniquely holistic healthcare option to Flint, Michigan with two centers in 2019. Through a continued partnership with Health Alliance Plan (HAP), Oak Street Health will support Medicare beneficiaries in Genesee County with a more personal, equitable and accountable approach to healthcare.

"Oak Street Health's expansion into Flint is deeply meaningful to all of us. Flint has dealt with a series of municipal and economic challenges that have deeply affected its most important asset - the local community," said Rafe Petty, Division President of Michigan for Oak Street Health. "Our centers will bring jobs to where they are needed most and give residents reliable access to primary care and other health care services. We're excited to extend our partnership with HAP to improve the lives of adults on Medicare in Flint."

A Community-Based Approach to Healthcare
Ranked 82 out of 83 Michigan counties for overall health outcomes, Flint has made effective care delivery for the aging population and healthcare access a top priority, according to The Joint Flint Health System's Community Health Needs Assessment.

Oak Street Health will address many of the community's unmet needs, including mental health, food insecurity and access to care for the aging population. The company offers a 24-7 support line for patients, and its care teams typically spend 20 - 40 minutes per patient visit, twice the industry average. To improve accessibility to care, Oak Street Health offers complimentary transportation to and from appointments, as well as supplemental in-center services such as podiatry, pharmacy and behavioral health support.

Combined, these services have reduced hospital admissions by 44 percent and emergency room visits by 46 percent, which will provide major cost savings for Genesee County, where emergency room visits are 43 percent higher than the national average.

Bringing Jobs to Flint
Oak Street Health puts a strong emphasis on creating jobs in the communities in which it operates and will bring new opportunities for employment in Flint. Throughout the next year, the company will bring close to 50 new jobs to the Flint community, where the unemployment rate is currently more than 50 percent higher than the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By hiring from the local community, Oak Street Health patients gain a more personalized level of care from people they know and trust - most of whom live near the center at which they work.

"We're thrilled to continue working with Oak Street Health and expand access to our Medicare Advantage network in Flint to ensure our members receive the high-quality, affordable healthcare they deserve," said Dr. Michael Genord, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for HAP. "There is a deep need here for a community-driven support system that meets residents' needs inside and outside the doctor's office. We look forward to working together to change the lives of Medicare beneficiaries in Flint."

Oak Street Health's first center in Flint will be in the Burton neighborhood at 3525 Saginaw Road, with a second location at 102 W. Pierson Road, Flint, Mich., 48505. Oak Street Health will accept multiple health plans at these locations. Michigan is already home to five other Oak Street Health centers, located in Southgate, Hazel Park, Cherry Hill (Inkster), Jefferson Village (Detroit) and Rosedale Park (Detroit).

To learn more about Oak Street Health's value-based primary care model, visit www.oakstreethealth.com.

About Oak Street Health
Oak Street Health is a fast-growing and innovative network of primary care centers for adults on Medicare designed to make healthcare more personal, equitable and accountable for all. Oak Street Health centers offer much more than a standard visit with a doctor. From providing transportation to and from appointments, insurance education, and supplemental services such as podiatry, behavioral health, and in-center pharmacies, the organization is closing critical gaps in the traditional healthcare experience. To encourage social wellness, each center hosts hundreds of social, fitness, and learning activities throughout the year. These services, coupled with Oak Street Health's focus on quality of care instead of volume of services, has led to a 44 percent reduction in patient hospital admissions and a 46 percent reduction in patient emergency room visits. Today, the organization serves more than 200 communities across the United States with one mission at its core - to rebuild healthcare as it should be.

About Health Alliance Plan
Health Alliance Plan (HAP) is a Michigan-based, nonprofit health plan that provides health coverage to individuals and companies of all sizes. For nearly 60 years, HAP has partnered with leading doctors and hospitals, employers and community organizations to enhance the health and well-being of the lives it touches. HAP offers a product portfolio with six distinct product lines: Group Insured Commercial, Individual, Medicare, Medicaid (using the HAP Empowered name), Self-Funded and Network Leasing. HAP excels in delivering award-winning preventive services, disease management and wellness programs, as well as personalized customer service.  For more information, visit www.hap.org.

Media Contact:
Kyle RallWalker Sands Communications
312-964-9114
kyle.rall@walkersands.com

Noelle TannerHealth Alliance Plan (HAP)
248-443-1076
ntanner@hap.org

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SOURCE Oak Street Health