Amerigroup Louisiana and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana have signed a definitive agreement to pursue a Medicaid-focused collaborative effort that will bring together expertise to benefit hundreds of thousands of Louisianans who participate in the state’s Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion and LaCHIP programs.
"This partnership is a natural fit for us because it helps further our company's mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianans," said Dr. I. Steven Udvarhelyi, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana's president and CEO. "We see our involvement in Medicaid as a way to help this important—and often vulnerable—population receive better health care. Doing this can lead toward elevating the health status of our state from its bottom ranking in the country."
Amerigroup Louisiana is a managed care organization that administers Healthy Louisiana services and benefits to approximately 229,000 members who participate in the state’s Medicaid, Medicaid Expansion and LaCHIP programs. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is the state’s oldest and largest health insurer. Formed in 1934, the company and its subsidiaries currently provide group and individual health insurance plans and services, life and disability insurance, and group voluntary products to more than 1.5 million Louisianans.
“Amerigroup Louisiana respects the brand value and history that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana holds across our state, and we are enthusiastic about working together to meet the diverse needs of Medicaid program members,” said Sonya Nelson, president of Amerigroup Louisiana. “Our members, partners and customers can remain confident that our existing benefits and services will not change, but will be strengthened by collaboration among two organizations that are fully committed to serving individuals and families across our state.”
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana’s stability, brand recognition, and established local presence are expected to complement Amerigroup’s best-in-class Medicaid solutions and capabilities as a leading managed care provider. Synergies in products and service areas will provide opportunities for the health plans to address the healthcare challenges of the increasingly diverse segments, customers, members and communities they serve.
This collaboration will have no immediate impact on Amerigroup or Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana health plan members, network providers or associates. Also, it will have no effect on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana’s commercial or Medicare businesses. All necessary approvals to this transaction and satisfaction of the conditions of the definitive agreements are expected to occur in the first quarter of 2017.