Florida Hospital in Orlando and Health First in Rockledge, Fla., are partnering to offer and expand health insurance across central Florida, according to a Florida Today report.
Under the deal, Florida Hospital, a 2,409-bed system and a member of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System, will provide care to policyholders of Health First Health Plans, the insurance arm of Health First.
Health First, which also has four acute-care hospitals, told Florida Today it wanted to expand its health plan strategy with Florida Hospital to remain financially stable during healthcare reform. "We had to grow the health plan," board member James Shaw said in the report. "It was absolutely critical to the success of the strategy." Florida Hospital officials said the organization decided to partner with Health First and its health plans, a competitor, because of its positive reputation throughout the state.
The partnership follows a January announcement between the two organizations. The Volusia/Flagler division of Florida Hospital, based in Daytona Beach, will offer a health plan in lockstep with Health First Health Plans starting in January 2014.
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