For Immediate Release
December 3, 2009
Bloomsburg Health System and Geisinger Health Plan reach new multi-year agreement
DANVILLE, PA –Geisinger Health Plan members can continue to receive services at Bloomsburg Hospital under a new multi-year agreement between the Health Plan and Bloomsburg Health System, which also includes Bloomsburg Health Care Center and Columbia Montour Home Health and Hospice.
“GHP is always searching for ways to partner with community-based hospitals and providers to deliver high quality, affordable health care to our patients and members. We are pleased to expand our relationship with Bloomsburg Health System,” said Teresa Willard, vice president of provider network management for Geisinger Health Plan.
“This expanded relationship allows Geisinger Health Plan to partner with Bloomsburg Health System to bring our Geisinger Health Plan Health Navigator program to our members who receive care from Bloomsburg Health System. Not only will our members in Columbia County and surrounding areas have continued access to quality and affordable health care, but they will also benefit from our innovative programs.” GHP’s Health Navigator program coordinates a member’s care, whether seeing a PCP or a specialist, or in the hospital, a nursing home or in their own home.
The contract applies to all Geisinger Health Plan’s product lines. Geisinger Health Plan has more than 20,000 members in Columbia County.
“By expanding the scope of this contract, we can guarantee local GHP subscribers the benefit of continuity of care to include hospital, home health, nursing home, and hospice services,” says Regis Cabonor, CEO of Bloomsburg Health System. “I’m very happy Bloomsburg Health System and GHP have been able to reach a multi-year contract. This is a first for our Health System and GHP.”
Geisinger Health Plan, begun in 1985, is headquartered in Danville, PA and is one of the nation’s largest rural HMOs. GHP is currently the top-rated plan in Pennsylvania and #6 in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) America’s Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10*. The plan serves more than 220,000 members in 42 counties. Coverage is available for businesses of all sizes, individuals and families, and Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the Geisinger Health System, GHP has been recognized nationally as a model for health care reform with documented success in innovative programs such as the patient-centered medical home. For more information, please visit www.thehealthplan.com.
Bloomsburg Hospital has served Bloomsburg and surrounding communities for over 100 years, and has partnered with Geisinger on a 20-bed inpatient psychiatric program for the past 15 years. As a member of Bloomsburg Health System, Columbia Montour Home Health has received the HomeCare Elite Award for three consecutive years, placing them in the top 25 of home care providers in the country. Bloomsburg Health Care Center has an exceptional therapy services program with approximately 98% of residents able to return home.
*America’s Best Health Insurance Plans is a registered trademark of U.S. News & World Report.
For more information, please contact
Amy Bowen, Public Relations Coordinator, (570) 271-8135
