Mayo Clinic and Medica have teamed up to develop health insurance products and services in a new joint agreement. The move is being touted as a care coordination partnership with local providers and Mayo Clinic specialists.
Nonprofit Mayo Clinic is a medical center based in Minnesota with more than 4,500 physicians and scientists and nearly 60,000 staff. Minneapolis-based Medica is a not-for-profit health services company that provides healthcare coverage in the individual, employer, Medicaid and Medicare markets across seven states, with planned expansions in 2019.
The relationship between the two organizations is already deeply entwined. Medica acquired the third-party business administrator Mayo Clinic Health Solutions in 2017, which provided services for 28 self-insuring companies including Mayo Clinic's staff. The two have also developed accountable care organization products that serve commercial group and individual markets in Southeastern Minnesota and Southeastern Wisconsin, and Mayo Clinic is a center within Medica’s insurance products.
“Mayo Clinic and Medica share a commitment to collaboration, compassion, customer service and innovation. Together, we’ve worked diligently to advance healthcare, improve the consumer experience and make healthcare delivery more efficient,” John Naylor, president and CEO of Medica, said in a statement. "This expanded relationship will benefit not only both organizations, but also the people in the communities we serve."
Medica is Mayo Clinic’s insurance partner under the agreement. The organizations will partner with local healthcare systems to ensure continued access to local providers for consumers. Providers can also utilize Mayo Clinic when “rare and complex care” is required, according to a press release.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Medica on the development of products that will include access to Mayo Clinic for patients who would benefit from expert specialists and resources,” Dennis Dahlen, chief financial officer at Mayo Clinic, said in a statement. “Our relationship with Medica and future product offerings support a collaborative model of care delivery and coordination of services with better outcomes for patients with complex and serious illness.”
Customers and Mayo Clinic staff will transition to Medica’s technology platform and customer service model starting Jan. 1, 2019.
Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."