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AmeriChoice Launches Innovative Health Care Services for Middle Tennessee TennCare Beneficiaries

Posted on: Monday, 2 April 2007, 18:00 CDT

AmeriChoice:

New program designed to improve quality of care and health

More than 4,000 providers and 40 hospitals, including the Vanderbilt and HCA systems, available to members

Coordinated delivery of service provides greater access to high-quality care

Strong commitment to the member and the community

Leveraging 12 years of experience serving the TennCare program, AmeriChoice by UnitedHealthcare yesterday began offering 174,000 TennCare beneficiaries in Middle Tennessee its innovative approach to health care services and special programs designed to improve the health and the quality of life of its members.

AmeriChoice TennCare members have access to a growing network of more than 4,000 health care providers and more than 40 hospitals in the 39-county Middle Tennessee service area, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center facilities and HCA hospitals. More physicians, hospitals and other providers are continually being added.

Members will benefit from a number of innovative health plan programs, including the unique AmeriChoice Personal Care Model™, a holistic approach to health care service coordination that takes into account environmental factors that affect an individual's health, and a toll-free 24/7 number that will connect members directly to a registered nurse.

The new AmeriChoice health plan combines its own expertise and dedication to improving health care for underserved, economically disadvantaged, and vulnerable individuals with the resources of its parent, UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation's leading and most innovative health and well-being companies.

Members with acute and chronic conditions have access to AmeriChoice's National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accredited disease management programs and its Healthy First Steps™ prenatal and postpartum care program for women with high risk pregnancies.

Eric Paul, CEO of AmeriChoice Tennessee, said, "We will be working with a broad network of community-based organizations and providers to facilitate the highest quality of care possible and address the serious health problems of our members."

Dr. David O. Hollis, Chief Medical Officer of AmeriChoice Tennessee, who is the former Medical Director of TennCare, said, "AmeriChoice is excited to be able to offer our innovative approach to health care services to the TennCare program and its beneficiaries in Middle Tennessee."

According to United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings™, Tennessee has one of the highest rates of preterm and low birth weight babies in the nation, a high rate of diabetes and a large smoking population. Tennessee also ranks sixth in the nation for obesity.

The AmeriChoice TennCare program will operate from offices in Brentwood, Chattanooga, Kingsport and Knoxville with approximately 150 employees. In addition to its new members in Middle Tennessee, AmeriChoice has served 78,000 TennCare beneficiaries in East Tennessee who formerly belonged to the John Deere Health Plan since 1995.

About AmeriChoice

Since 1989, AmeriChoice has been exclusively committed to serving beneficiaries of Medicaid and other public sector health care programs and has earned a reputation as an innovative developer of solutions for states to provide more accessible and affordable and sustainable health care for their most vulnerable citizens. As the public-sector health care unit of UnitedHealth Group, AmeriChoice serves nearly 1.4 million members in health plans in 13 states, and provides disease management services for three states.

Source: Business Wire

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