In six counties of central Wisconsin, consumers will have a new health insurance choice in a plan prominently featuring the Aspirus System, nonprofit community-directed health network with seven hospitals, 50 clinics and home, hospice and pharmacy services.
Aspirus, based in the city of Wausau, is teaming up with Arise Health Plan, a part of Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance, to offer the new co-branded Aspirus Arise product that's been "designed to remove financial barriers to getting care at the right time and in the right place," said Arise Health Plan COO Scott Kowalski.
In addition to in-network access with Aspirus Wisconsin providers, the plan is offering $0 co-pay prescriptions for certain drugs treating common conditions like asthma, high cholesterol and hypertension. Subscribers will also receive reimbursement for a range of fitness programs.
"We know that the best way to keep healthcare spending in check is to prevent health problems, or to identify them early," Kowalski said. "When it costs too much money up front, people simply put off trips to the doctor or don't fill their prescriptions."
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The co-branded plan is geared toward helping consumers sort through confusion about provider networks, said Matt Heywood, president and CEO of Aspirus.
"In some cases our patients have enrolled in health plans and just assumed that they would continue to have access to their Aspirus physician," said Heywood. "With the Aspirus Arise plan, members will have access to excellent, compassionate Aspirus providers while receiving the best value for their health insurance dollar."
The new health plan will be available in six of the 14 counties that Aspirus serves, including Wood county and Wisconsin Rapids, an area where the health system is trying to expand. Aspirus is seeking approval in Wisconsin Rapids to build the city's second hospital, raising concerns about duplicating services.
The health system, which recently installed an Epic electronic health record, is growing its services, such as adding cardiac rehabilitation at its Rhinelander clinic, and branching out by opening walk-in urgent care centers.
At the same time, Aspirus is taking a different strategy than some of its health system peers, which are trying to expand by launching their own health plans.
Gundersen Health System, serving western Wisconsin, is working to use its own Medicaid and commercial health plans to create "easier collaboration," as Karla Lord, Gundersen Health Plan director of business operations, said recently.