State OKs health insurers’ alliance

Hudson Health Plan in Tarrytown and Schenectady-based MVP Health Care have completed the deal announced in April that brings Hudson into the MVP family of companies. The state Department of Health approved the union in late August.

The two nonprofit health insurers together will serve approximately 733,000 members. Hudson will continue to do business as Hudson Health Plan, serving more than 120,000 members of the state”™s Medicaid Managed Care, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus plans in Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Ulster, and Sullivan counties. MVP Health Care serves more than 613,000 members in upstate New York, New Hampshire and Vermont with a regional network of 19,000 health care providers.

Officials at Hudson and MVP said the new alliance is driven by health care reform and the launch of state health benefits exchanges. MVP is participating in the health exchanges, which for the first time will allow consumers to comparison-shop among health insurance plans. MVP will be better positioned to appeal to consumers because it will draw on Hudson”™s expertise in working directly with consumers, they said.

As health care reform reshapes the industry, Hudson will be better positioned as an MVP company and by being part of a larger organization. MVP”™s broader product line and resources will strengthen Hudson”™s ability to serve its members, particularly by developing innovative integrated and coordinated care models to manage complex medical cases.