Maricopa Special Health Care District Selects Health Plan Partner

University Physicians Healthcare from Tucson wins bid with creative proposal - August 23, 2005

The Maricopa Special Health Care District board has accepted a proposal from University Physicians Health Plans (UPHP) to provide comprehensive management services for the Maricopa Health Plan. The contract will be finalized this week and takes effect October 1st.

Formerly managed by Maricopa County, the plan has more than 35,000 members throughout the county and is funded by federal and state Medicaid dollars through the state AHCCCS system.

We are very excited about working with UPH, said Paulina Morris, chairman of the hospital's board. They are an outstanding group of skilled professionals who will bring a legacy of experience to the table.

The MIHS opportunity matches our experience managing a health plan in an integrated health system. It is a natural fit for us and expands our health plan operations with a similar business partner, said UP Health Plans CEO Kathleen Oestreich.

We have a shared vision of the health plan as a financially stable and thriving provider of health coverage for AHCCCS enrollees and look forward to moving forward together with MIHS to achieve this, she added.

The proposal, which was won through a competitive bidding process, includes a fee-based management model which incorporates growing the membership, handling claims and making provider payments. In addition, UPHP will establish an escrow fund, with the proceeds earmarked for the development of a joint venture after a two-year period.

The special health care district was formed in November, 2003, when voters passed Proposition 414. The district formally took over the health care system from Maricopa County in January, 2005. Transitioning the health plan back to the health care system has been a major accomplishment of the new board of directors.

About University Physicians Healthcare

University Physicians Health Plans is a division of University Physicians Healthcare, a non-profit corporation created in 1985 as the medical practice of the physicians of the University of Arizona College of Medicine. University Physicians Health Plans (UPHP) operates University Family Care (an AHCCCS Medicaid Plan) and University Physicians Healthcare Group, the state sponsored insurance program for small business. UPHP has been a contractor for these programs since 1982 and 1987 respectively.

For more information, please visit www.uph.org .

Last updated on October 7, 2008