Ascension Health's Milwaukee-based Ministry Health Care network, which has owned health insurance company Network Health since 2012, has sold a 50 percent interest in the insurance company to Froedtert Health, an eastern Wisconsin network that includes three hospitals, a medical group and about 30 clinics and health care centers. Ministry Health Care has 15 hospitals and 45 clinics in Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota.
The agreement between Ministry Health Care and Froedtert Health also established Integrated Health Network of Wisconsin as the provider organization for Network Health members in an expanded service area in eastern Wisconsin. Before the agreement, Network Health provided commercial and Medicare Advantage health insurance plans to companies and individuals in northeastern Wisconsin. The new co-ownership will expand Network Health insurance services into southeastern Wisconsin, according to a statement from the companies. The completion of the transaction was announced Nov. 11; terms were not disclosed.
Sheila Jenkins, president of Network Health, said the agreement will allow for an expanded product portfolio. "With the agreement now in place, our intent is for Network Health to offer both fully insured and self-funded plans to large employers by spring 2015."
Integrated Health Network manages care for about 90,000 people, including about 55,000 people through a partnership with United Healthcare. In addition to Ministry Health Care and Froedtert Health, the Integrated Health Network, which began in 2010, includes several organizations in
Wisconsin: Agnesian HealthCare, Columbia St. Mary's, the Medical College of Wisconsin and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, according to a news release.
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