BRMC/PHO, Humana reach agreement to continue access for Northern Arkansas Medicare Advantage members through 2016

Baxter Regional Medical Center/Baxter Regional PHO, Ltd. (a Physician Hospital Organization consisting of Baxter Regional Medical Center, 18 BRMC clinics, 21 independent physician clinics/medical groups, and 5 facilities; with an approximate total of 96 PHO Member Physicians) and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) have reached an agreement allowing more than 1,500 Humana Northern Arkansas Medicare Advantage members to seek care at BRMC physicians and facilities at in-network benefit levels through December 31, 2016.

andldquo;Our key reasons for cancelling the agreement have been addressed by Humana. We are pleased to move forward with Humana under these mutually agreeable terms, “said Ivan Holleman, BRMC VP/Chief Financial Officer and Baxter Regional PHO Secretary/Treasurer.

Following an announcement four weeks ago that BRMC/PHO was leaving Humanaandrsquo;s network, leaders from both organizations met over the last two weeks to work out a new contract. An agreement was reached late last week for BRMC/PHO to continue providing in-network services to Humana’s Medicare Advantage patients.

andldquo;This is great news for our Medicare Advantage members in Mountain Home,” explained Kathleen Faulk, Humana’s President of Senior Products in Arkansas. “Both parties worked in good faith to maintain access, choice and affordability for the people we serve.”