Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and Tuality Healthcare have announced an agreement that provides Humana’s Medicare Advantage (MA) members access to the medical group’s 350-plus physicians.
During the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), which began on Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, 2013, Medicare beneficiaries in Washington County will be able to enroll in the Humana Medicare Advantage HMO plan. The open enrollment period ends onDecember 7, 2013. The new agreement with Tuality Healthcare will take effect Jan. 1, 2014.
“The addition of Tuality Healthcare offers our members in Oregon a wide range of new options for accessing care with their Medicare Advantage plans,” said Oraida Roman, President of Senior Products for Humana’s Intermountain Region. “Geographically, the west side of Portland is an exciting expansion for us, complementing our existing strong relationship with Adventist on the eastside. Tuality is a highly respected healthcare system throughout western Washington County and we are delighted to be affiliated with them.”
Humana’s Medicare Advantage HMO plan in Oregon is rated 4.5 (out of 5) stars for 2014.The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) uses information from member-satisfaction surveys, health plans, and health care providers to give overall star ratings to plans. The rating system uses more than 50 different quality measures in five categories, including:
- Staying healthy via preventive services
- Managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Evaluations of a plan’s responsiveness and service
- Complaints, appeals and voluntary disenrollments
- Assessments of the quality of customer service
“Tuality Healthcare is very patient minded. We are focused on delivering the Triple Aim – providing better care and creating greater health outcomes for individuals at a lower cost – all while ensuring the patient experience is enhanced,” said Manny Berman President and CEO of Tuality Healthcare. “This is a natural collaboration, given Humana’s excellent programs, and we look forward to a strong, ongoing relationship.”
Tuality has provided care to western Washington County residents since 1918. Today, the organization is the only local, independent, community-governed health care system in the area, offering inpatient and outpatient treatment, specialty services, health education, and more. Its larger facilities include Tuality Community Hospital in Hillsboro and Tuality Forest Grove Hospital.
In addition, Tuality has numerous medical clinics and outpatient facilities, which offer medical care to the communities in western Washington County, such as Aloha, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Cornelius, and the smaller communities of the Coastal Range foothills.
“The expansion of Humana’s participating hospital and physician network in Oregon is a key to the health care options that we offer to individuals eligible for Medicare,” said Roman. “Our network includes some of the most respected hospitals and physicians in the area, providing a comprehensive range of treatment and diagnostic services.”
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of its core businesses, Humana believes it can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom the company has relationships.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:
· Annual reports to stockholders;
· Securities and Exchange Commission filings;
· Most recent investor conference presentations;
· Quarterly earnings news releases;
· Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls;
· Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors);
· Corporate Governance information.
About Tuality
Tuality Healthcare is the leading healthcare provider in western Washington County, Oregon. Tuality serves a market area of 350,000 and growing. We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical services, including comprehensive cardiac, cancer and stroke care. The following features set Tuality apart from other healthcare providers: A near perfect core measure score of 99.1 out of 100 in a recent accreditation survey from the Joint Commission; the leading geriatric psychiatry unit in the Pacific Northwest; easy access to Tuality Community Hospital via TriMet’s MAX light-rail service; a certified primary stroke center which recently received a Gold Plus Quality Achievement award from the American Heart Association, and an accredited cancer center, the second facility in the state of Oregon to be accredited by the American College of Radiology. For more information, please visit www.tuality.org or www.facebook.com/Tuality.
