Failed healthcare group purchased by Catholic Fidelis

The New York State Catholic Health Plan Inc., (Fidelis Care New York) has purchased the Medicaid and Child Health Plus programs of Partners Health Plans, a Glens Falls health maintenance organization that is ceasing operations at the end of July.

The transaction has been approved by the New York State Department of health and local County officials. The acquisition will increase Fidelis' Medicaid and Child Health Plus enrollment by approximately 6,000 and 1,800 members, respectively, and will also significantly expand the plan's service area.

The acquisition will add Chautauqua, Herkimer and Saratoga Counties to the Plan's Medicaid and Child Health Plus programs, while adding the following counties to its Child Health Plus program: Franklin, Clinton, Essex, Warren, Hamilton, Washington, Saratoga, Ulster and Dutchess. Fidelis will be seeing the necessary regulatory approvals to serve the medicaid population for these Child Health Plus counties in the near future.

Fidelis is a not-for-profit managed care organization sponsored by the bishops of the eight dioceses of New York State. Founded in 1993, Fidelis is a licensed pre-paid health services plan (PHSP) operating both Medicaid and Child Health Plus product lines. The Plan will also be working closely with the state and local counties to offer the Family Health Plus program for the uninsured population. It is anticipated that this program will commence next January.

Fidelis now serves 33 counties in the state and has approximately 100,000 members. Its provider network is comprised of approximately 20,000 physicians and 145 hospitals.

"We are happy that we have been able to ensure the continuation of care for Partners' membership through the expedient completion of this transaction," said Mark L. Lane, president and chief executive officer of Fidelis. "We look forward to serving these new members through a close collaboration with our expanded provider network.

"Bishop Howard J. Hubbard has been a strong advocate for Fidelis' expansion in the Northeastern New York region. He has espoused the need for a strong and meaningful collaboration among Fidelis, healthcare providers and community based/public social service professionals to serve the poor and medically underserved population in a dignified and quality manner."

(Editor's note: Medicaid and Child Health Plus members of Partners Health Plans who have questions regarding their coverage should call 1-800-FIDELIS for moreinformation.)

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