Assist America Partners With Managed Care 2000+ To Help Employees Navigate Through The Health Care Delivery System

Business Wire, Dec 17, 2002

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 17, 2002

Assist America, the nation's largest provider of global emergency medical assistance through employee benefit plans, today announced a strategic partnership with health care management services leader, Managed Care 2000 .

This new alliance is the first to deliver private health care benefits to employees of foreign companies who are in the U.S., on a routine or continuous basis, and need medical treatment or experience an accident while traveling.

Insurance typically covers medical care for these employees, but not the follow-up. Managed Care 2000 goes the extra step by providing total health care management that includes hospital admission review, pre-certification, utilization management, prospective claims negotiation, and intervention prior to, during, and after an event. It serves as a link that connects patient, insurance company and health care provider. This leading edge approach navigates through the U.S. health care delivery system to determine what is best for the patient, while effectively controlling overall claims costs for both the patient and the insurance company.

"Our goal is to provide a comprehensive managed care program for employees who come to the U.S. from a different culture and totally different health care delivery model," said Deborah Ault, Vice President of Care Management for Managed Care 2000 . "When a medical emergency occurs, these travelers perceive that they are stranded in a foreign country. We can make a difference by helping them understand what resources are available and what avenues they can follow to obtain optimum health care."

"This partnership has taken us one step closer to helping our international clients manage medical claims here in the U.S., while at the same time achieving significant cost savings," said George W. Howard III, President of Assist America. "Managed Care 2000 is one of only 11 companies across the nation to be accredited by the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (URAC) for both utilization management and case management. They have an extensive network of professional registered nurses and board certified peer review physicians throughout the country to ensure that the highest quality care is always accessible."

For more information contact: Assist America at (800) 304-4585 or visit www.assistamerica.com or Managed Care 2000 toll free at 1-877-710-0278 or visit www.managedcare2k.com