Cincinnati-based Catholic Health Partners plans to acquire Kaiser Permanente Ohio's health plan and to continue Kaiser Permanente's medical group practice and care delivery operations in Northeast Ohio, the organizations said in a statement. Kaiser Permanente Ohio currently serves more than 80,000 members. CHP and Kaiser Permanente Ohio did not disclose terms of their proposed agreement, said CHP spokesperson Liz Vogel.
Once CHP and Kaiser Permanente Ohio finalize the deal, the yet-to-be-named non-Catholic organization will be made up of the 1,600 physicians, health care staff, administrative and operations personnel who are currently part of the Ohio Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio. It is too soon to know if any layoffs will occur, Vogel said.
CHP offered contracts to the approximately 200 physicians currently employed by Ohio Permanente Medical Group, and more than 90 percent have signed on with the new practice group, Vogel said. CHP plans to retain Kaiser Permanente Ohio's existing 15 medical offices. Most patients should have a smooth transition, and can continue to see their current doctors, according to Vogel.
Vogel said HealthSpan, Catholic Health Partners' insurance organization, has been licensed to be among those selling health insurance on the Ohio exchange, as has Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio. The exchange allows consumers to purchase health insurance coverage and for eligible people to get subsidies. The exchanges will begin enrollment Oct. 1, with coverage beginning Jan. 1.
CHP and Kaiser Permanente Ohio cannot yet say when the deal might close. Vogel said the organizations are seeking approvals from Ohio's Department of Insurance and Cincinnati Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr.
CHP is the largest health system in Ohio. It has 24 hospitals in Ohio and Kentucky. CHP hospitals in the region covered by Kaiser Permanente Ohio are St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center in Boardman, Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain, Mercy Allen Hospital in Oberlin and St. Joseph Health Center in Warren.
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