Bronson joins network

Priority Health welcomes Bronson Healthcare Group Sept. 1

(GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – August 10, 2009)  Priority Health announced today that Bronson Healthcare Group, based in Kalamazoo, Mich., will participate in the Priority Health provider network. The agreement, which is effective September 1, gives Priority Health HMO and PPO members access to Bronson services throughout Southwestern Michigan. These include Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo; Bronson Vicksburg Hospital; Bronson LakeView Hospital in Paw Paw; and all Bronson-owned primary care practices and specialty clinics.

"This partnership strengthens our commitment to Southwestern Michigan," said Jeff Hoerle, Executive Director, Southwest Michigan Market at Priority Health. "This network expansion makes Priority Health a competitive health benefits option for employers in this region. We are proud to serve both our employer groups and our members with a comprehensive provider network delivering high-quality care."

Helen Hughes, Director of Managed Care & Business Relations at Bronson, said, "We are very pleased to be able to offer Priority Health members in-network access to Bronson providers and services. We know there are many patients who have wanted to receive care at Bronson, but the out-of-network fees were a barrier.  Now, Priority Health members will be able to choose Bronson without hesitation."
 
The Bronson system has a national reputation for quality of care. In 2005, Bronson Methodist Hospital was awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award — one of only nine health care recipients in the award's history. In 2008, it received the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals^® Performance Improvement Leaders award and was named one of the nation's top 100 heart hospitals. This year, Bronson joined the ranks of hospitals performing in the top 5% in the nation as a HealthGrades^® 2009 Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence.  And, in July, was awarded the 2009 American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize. This national honor is awarded annually to only one U.S. hospital in recognition of its leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care.

Through its provider network, Priority Health members can choose from 14,000 physicians and more than 100 hospitals throughout Michigan. Priority Health first entered the Southwestern Michigan market in 2006 when Borgess Health joined its network. Since that time, providers have continued to join the health plan's expanding network. In June, Priority Health announced an expansion of its service area to include all of Kalamazoo, Calhoun, St. Joseph and Branch counties.

About Bronson:

Bronson Healthcare Group is a nonprofit healthcare system providing a full continuum of healthcare services to residents of nine counties in southwest Michigan. With a workforce of nearly 5,000, it is Kalamazoo's largest employer and has been recognized for the past six years by Working Mother magazine as one of the nation's 100 best companies to work for.
 
Its flagship hospital, Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich., is a tertiary care facility with 380 licensed beds and all private rooms. Bronson Methodist Hospital provides care in virtually every specialty including cardiology, orthopedics, surgery, emergency medicine, neurology and oncology.

Bronson LakeView Hospital  in Paw Paw, Mich., is a full-service 35-bed critical access hospital. It offers a full range of acute care for inpatients including surgery, geriatric psychology and emergency care.  Outpatient services are provided at the hospital as well as at Bronson LakeView Outpatient Center in Paw Paw and at medical offices and clinics in Decatur, Lawton, Marcellus and Mattawan. Services include behavioral health, home health, rehabilitation, pharmacy, diagnostics and a host of specialty clinics.

For more information, visit bronsonhealth.com.

About Priority Health:

Priority Health is a nationally recognized health benefits company based in Michigan. It serves more than a half million members with a broad portfolio of products including commercial and government health plans. A nonprofit dedicated to providing all people access to affordable health care, Priority Health continues to be recognized as one of America’s Best Health Plans by U.S. News & World Report magazine and NCQA. Priority Health employs 900 people throughout Michigan's Lower Peninsula with offices in Grand Rapids, Farmington Hills, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo and Traverse City.