New partnership offers qualified residents convenient access to coordinated, integrated care

Alignment Healthcare has partnered with FirstCarolinaCare Insurance Company to provide more Medicare beneficiaries access to its technology-enabled and integrated personalized care model in Wake County, North Carolina. Every year, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their health plan selection from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 for benefits that begin on Jan. 1 of the following year. In 2017, qualified Medicare beneficiaries living in Wake County will be able to access Alignment Healthcare services through Medicare Advantage health plans offered by FirstCarolinaCare.

By 2020, nearly 20 percent of Wake County is expected to be eligible for Medicare; with fewer physician practices accepting new Medicare patients, it has made it difficult for many seniors to find a medical home. This new partnership aims to provide better access to comprehensive and integrated health care.

“With more people choosing to retire to North Carolina, there is a growing need for more convenient and coordinated health care,” said John Kao, founder and CEO of Alignment Healthcare. “We are committed to caring for seniors and those who need care the most, and proud to have FirstCarolinaCare join us in this journey to provide patients with the highest quality health care.”

A subsidiary of FirstHealth of the Carolinas, FirstCarolinaCare is the only hospital-owned not-for-profit insurance company in North Carolina. FirstCarolinaCare currently offers its FirstMedicare Direct Medicare Advantage plans in seven counties in North Carolina. Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, FirstCarolinaCare will offer two Medicare Advantage plans to Wake County residents through partnership with Alignment Healthcare: FirstMedicare Direct smartHMO and FirstMedicareDirect preferredPLUS.

“FirstCarolinaCare is committed to giving our members access to top-notch health care,” said FirstCarolinaCare President F. Craig Humphrey. “By partnering with Alignment Healthcare, our Wake County members will now have access to its comprehensive care centers, care coordination, home monitoring and chronic disease management programs.”

Alignment Healthcare owns and operates four Alignment Healthcare Centers in Wake County. It entered the North Carolina market with another Medicare Advantage product in 2015.

ABOUT ALIGNMENT HEALTHCARE

Alignment Healthcare is an integrated population health company with expertise in Medicare. Its mission is to relentlessly focus on improving health care value for patients and partners – one patient at a time. With offices and care centers in California, Florida and North Carolina, Alignment Healthcare provides partners across the country with a continuous end-to-end care program, including clinical care coordination, risk management capabilities and IT enablement. For more information, go to www.alignmenthealthcare.com.
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