UnitedHealthcare Awarded QUEST Contract for Hawaii
HONOLULU (Jan. 31, 2012) – UnitedHealthcare Community & State, the nation’s largest Medicaid managed-care company, announced it was one of five health plans awarded a contract by the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services to provide health coverage through its QUEST program, effective July 1, for eligible lower-income Hawaii residents who are not aged, blind or disabled.
UnitedHealthcare serves about 21,000 aged, blind and disabled Medicaid members in Hawaii’s QExA (QUEST Expanded Access) program and also serves 19,000 Medicare members in Hawaii. The new QUEST contract will enable UnitedHealthcare Community Plan to offer a health plan option to the more than 225,000 individuals enrolled in the QUEST program.
According to the Department of Human Services, the new QUEST contract “will improve access statewide, support new models to manage care for people with chronic diseases, and provide incentives for leveraging information technology to improve the health and well-being of Hawaii’s residents.” One of the essential changes in the new contract is “patient-centered care,” in which physicians and other health care providers work with clients, especially people with complex health problems and chronic diseases, to better manage and coordinate their care.
“UnitedHealthcare’s QUEST contract award with the state of Hawaii will enable us to strengthen our partnership with the state, care providers and the community to offer access statewide to high-quality health care services and resources,” said Bill Guptail, president of UnitedHealthcare of Hawaii. “We look forward to bringing the benefit of our personalized care model and innovative approaches to addressing diabetes, obesity and prenatal care for low-income families.”
UnitedHealthcare also provides health care benefits and services to 5,000 people enrolled in employer-sponsored plans. People enrolled in UnitedHealthcare plans have access to a care provider network of 25 hospitals and more than 2,700 physicians and other care professionals statewide. Currently the company employs more than 150 people on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.
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