2004 JUL 17 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Inc., (PBH) a national managed behavioral health care organization and subsidiary of PacifiCare Health Systems, Inc., (PHS) has been selected by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care of Wellesley, Massachusetts, to provide comprehensive behavioral health care benefits for 800,000 members in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island.
PBH will provide inpatient and outpatient mental health and chemical dependency benefits for Harvard Pilgrim's commercial and Medicare health plan members.
The multi-year agreement, effective January 1, 2005, aligns with PBH's expansion plans to diversify its customer portfolio, particularly in the eastern United States, where, with the addition of Harvard Pilgrim, 20% of PBH's total membership now resides. PBH currently serves approximately 4.1 million members.
'We set the bar very high in reviewing potential behavioral health care partners,' said Roberta Herman, MD, Harvard Pilgrim's senior vice president and chief medical officer.
'PacifiCare Behavioral Health stood out as the clear best choice because of its ability to strengthen the clinical and administrative operations that support our behavioral health benefits. We expect this new relationship to result in continuous improvements in service and quality for our members and providers.'
Harvard Pilgrim is the only health plan in the country to be rated among the Top 10 for both member satisfaction and clinical effectiveness, according to a report released by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) in 2003.
'PacifiCare Behavioral Health and Harvard Pilgrim begin this relationship with much in common,' said Howard G. Phanstiel, PacifiCare Health Systems president and chief executive officer.
'All of PBH's customer service centers have earned NCQA's highest level of accreditation available to managed behavioral health care organizations, and, like Harvard Pilgrim, PBH has experienced consistent growth and financial stability.'
Under the direction of PBH President and chief executive officer Jerry Vaccaro, MD, PBH's expansion into the eastern U.S. began in 2002 with the addition of Pennsylvania-based Keystone Health Plan Central.
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is a not-for-profit health plan operating in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine with a network of more than 22,000 doctors and 130 hospitals.
PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Inc. provides mental health, chemical dependency, and employee assistance services to covered members and maintains a national network of behavioral health care practitioners.
PacifiCare Health Systems offers individuals, employers, and Medicare beneficiaries a variety of consumer-driven health care and life insurance products.
This article was prepared by Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2004, Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net.
