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EmblemHealth

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EmblemHealth
Company typeNonprofit
IndustryHealth Insurance
Key people
  • Karen Ignagni (President and CEO)
ProductsHealthcare services
Health insurance
Websitewww.emblemhealth.com Edit this on Wikidata
55 Water Street houses the company headquarters

EmblemHealth is one of the United States' largest nonprofit health plans. It is headquartered at 55 Water Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City.[1] It is a multi-billion-dollar organization with over 3 million members.[2]

EmblemHealth was created in 2006 through the merger of Group Health Incorporated (GHI) and the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP). GHI and HIP had been operating as separate companies in the New York region since 1937 and 1947, respectively.[3]

History

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Group Health Incorporated (GHI)

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GHI – originally named Group Health Association of New York – was established in 1937 to provide New York's working families access to medical services.[4][5] This new health care model was built around a network of participating providers and was a precursor to today's preferred provider organization (PPO).[5][6]

In order to expand its presence in the upstate New York market, GHI established GHI HMO as an incorporated entity in May 1999.[5] The following month, GHI HMO acquired certain assets of Well Care Management Group, Inc.[6]

In August 2005, GHI Select HMO acquired the assets, including the membership, of ABC Health Plans, which provides managed care services to Medicaid, Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus enrollees in Manhattan and The Bronx, New York.[7][8]

Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP)

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Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York (HIP) was incorporated in 1944 as the first health insurance plan for public service workers.[9] The company was founded by David M. Heyman with the support of New York City mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who wanted to offer medical services to New Yorkers of “moderate means.”[10] HIP got its first members in 1947.[11]

In 1997, HIP began offering its members medical services through a physician provider network, in addition to its medical centers.[6]

In 2001, HIP acquired Vytra Health Plans Long Island along with certain related entities.[12] Due to their steadily worsening financial condition, the decision was made to merge these entities into HIP, effective March 29, 2006.[6]

In March 2005, HIP acquired ConnectiCare Holding Company, Inc., a Connecticut corporation and its subsidiaries.[13] ConnectiCare was established in 1981.[14] ConnectiCare serves approximately 245,000 members in a service area that includes the entire State of Connecticut; Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, Franklin and parts of Worcester counties in Massachusetts; and Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Orange Counties in New York.[6][13] ConnectiCare's members had access to a provider network of approximately 19,900 health care providers prior to the merger.[6]

Merger of GHI and HIP

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On September 29, 2005, the boards of directors of GHI and HIP announced an agreement to merge the two companies.[13] The resulting company, to be named EmblemHealth, would be governed by a Foundation made up of an equal number of directors from both companies.[3][13]

Anthony Watson, then chairman and CEO of HIP, managed the 2006 merger, which created the largest health insurer based in New York State.[3][13] Watson's compensation, $8.8 million in 2011, was often discussed.[15] In contrast, Mark Wagar, president and CEO of Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield (part of Anthem), the largest New York insurer, was paid $2.2 million.[15]

In May 2013, Frank Branchini became chairman and chief executive officer, succeeding Watson, who retired.[15]

As EmblemHealth

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In November 2012, EmblemHealth began a program called Neighborhood Care to provide health services, including health screenings, exercise classes and referral assistance, to underserved communities.[16][17] The first two Neighborhood Care facilities were located in Harlem and Cambria Heights, Queens.[18][19] Two additional Neighborhood Care sites were established in Chinatown in December 2013[20] and in Crown Heights in April 2016.[19][21]

In January 2013, EmblemHealth announced a partnership with AdvantageCare Physicians (ACPNY).[citation needed]

On May 21, 2015, it was announced that Karen Ignagni, CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), would leave the industry's lobbying group to become president and CEO of EmblemHealth, effective September 1, 2015.[22] Ignagni, who spent more than 20 years with AHIP, replaced Frank Branchini.[23]

In February 2016, EmblemHealth announced a new partnership with the City of New York and the Municipal Labor Committee to provide expanded access to health care.[24] The partnership was also developed to support the city's goal of health care cost savings for NYC taxpayers.[25]

On March 25, 2016, EmblemHealth announced a two-year partnership agreement with Northwell Health.[26][27]

In March 2020, EmblemHealth was named the winner of two Stevie Awards at the 14th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.[28]

Hospital management

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HIP owned LaGuardia Hospital from 1964 thru 1996.[29][30] GHI owned Hillcrest General Hospital during a similar period.[31][32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "EmblemHealth | 55 Water Street". The Real Deal New York. May 7, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  2. ^ "EmblemHealth's dramatic turnaround fueled by big real estate sale". Modern Healthcare. March 3, 2017. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "HIP & GHI Agree to Merge to Create Largest Health Insurer in New York State". healthplanone.com.
  4. ^ Plunkett, Jack W. (October 2007). Plunkett's Health Care Industry Almanac 2008: The Only Comprehensive Guide To The Health Care Industry. Plunkett Research, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-59392-096-8.
  5. ^ a b c Guzick, David S. (October 13, 2020). An Introduction to the US Health Care Industry: Balancing Care, Cost, and Access. JHU Press. ISBN 978-1-4214-3866-5.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Plan of Conversion of the EmblemHealth Companies" (PDF). www.dfs.ny.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2015.
  7. ^ "Company Overview of ABC Health Plan". www.bloomberg.com.
  8. ^ Plunkett, Jack W. (November 2005). Plunkett's Health Care Industry Almanac 2006: The Only Comprehensive Guide To The Health Care Industry. Plunkett Research, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-59392-046-3.
  9. ^ Public Health Service Publication. U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, Environmental Health Service, National Air Pollution Control Administration. 1951. pp. 25–6.
  10. ^ Hicks, Nancy (September 11, 1972). "FUTURE OF H.I.P. STILL IN DISPUTE". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Blair, William G. (January 8, 1984). "DAVID M. HEYMAN, FINANCIER AND A HEALTH SERVICES LEADER". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "HIP Buys Vytra". Crain's New York Business. May 24, 2001. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e Levick, Diane (September 30, 2005). "HEALTH PLANS WILL MERGE". courant.com. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "HIP of N.Y. Acquires ConnectiCare". Insurance Journal. June 24, 2004. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "CEO Tony Watson to leave EmblemHealth". Crain's New York Business. May 15, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Community-based providers push to continue behavioral health reforms". Crain's New York Business. September 9, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Payers make wellness investments". www.managedhealthcareexecutive.modernmedicine.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  18. ^ Ewing, Michael (February 8, 2013). "EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Comes to Harlem". Commercial Observer. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Opens at Hudson Guild". Harlem World Magazine. May 29, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care Opens in Chinatown". www.prnewswire.com (Press release).
  21. ^ "Care in Crown Heights". blog.emblemhealth.com.
  22. ^ "Karen Ignagni to be EmblemHealth CEO". www.nasdaq.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
  23. ^ "AHIP's Karen Ignagni Slated to Take Helm of EmblemHealth". www3.ambest.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015.
  24. ^ "EmblemHealth Pleased to Partner with the City of New York and its Unions to Expand Access to Innovative, Value-Based Care". www.prnewswire.com (Press release).
  25. ^ "Mayor details $3.4 billion plan for lowering health care costs". www.crainsnewyork.com.
  26. ^ "EmblemHealth signs partnership with Northwell". Modern Healthcare. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  27. ^ "EmblemHealth, Northwell Sign New Leadership Agreement". www.emblemhealth.com.
  28. ^ "EmblemHealth Family of Company Wins 2020 Stevie® Awards for Innovation in Customer Service". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "Deaths: GRAY, ARTHUR A., M.D." The New York Times. November 23, 2004. at Forest Hills Hospital dates back to 1976, when it was known as LaGuardia Hospital.
  30. ^ Toni Cimino (February 16, 2006). "Hospital takes on new name". Queens Courier.
  31. ^ "Group Health Inc. v. Blue Cross Ass'n, 587 F. Supp. 887 (S.D.N.Y. 1984)". June 13, 1984. In 1974, GHI purchased Hillcrest General Hospital
  32. ^ "DEWEY v. HILLCREST GEN. HOSP". February 22, 1994. Hillcrest General Hospital-G.H.I. Group Health Incorporated
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