Fallon Community Health Plan expands affordable FCHP Direct Care network to Lahey Clinic

Worcester, Mass., December 18, 2007—In response to a growing trend toward the need for more affordable health care options, Fallon Community Health Plan (FCHP) today announced plans to expand its unique and cost-effective FCHP Direct Care option. Effective January 1, 2008, Lahey Clinic physicians will be added to the FCHP Direct Care network.

FCHP Direct Care is a popular choice for those who want a high-quality, cost-effective plan option that can save them up to an additional 15% premium savings over a similar HMO product. The FCHP Direct Care network also includes Acton Medical Associates, Charles River Medical Associates, Fallon Clinic, Lawrence General Independent Practice, Lawrence General Hospital, Lowell General Physician Hospital Organization, Mount Auburn Hospital, Mount Auburn Cambridge IPA, Northeast Physician Hospital Organization and Southboro Medical Group.

“Lahey Clinic has a rich history of excellence in patient care, and we are looking forward to working with its providers in bringing quality care and services to our FCHP Direct Care members,” said Patrick Hughes, Division President, Health Plan Operations, FCHP.

Lahey Clinic, one of the region’s premier medical groups, combines the specialty resources of its medical centers with top-quality primary care services. Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, Mass., encompasses a large ambulatory care
center and a 317-bed hospital. Lahey Clinic Medical Center, North Shore, in Peabody, Mass., serves more than 800 outpatients each day and includes a 10-bed hospital and emergency room.

“We are pleased to welcome FCHP Direct Care members to Lahey Clinic,” said Lahey’s Chief Operating Officer Sanford R. Kurtz, MD. “Through this affiliation, our patients will have an opportunity to access the world-class care they’ve come to know and trust with exceptional health care coverage from a top health plan.”

Lauren M. Petit
lauren.petit@fchp.org

About FCHP
Founded in 1977, Fallon Community Health Plan provides health care services designed to meet the unique and changing needs of all we serve. FCHP is the only health plan in Massachusetts that is both an insurer and provider of care. Our product portfolio includes a variety of group and individual health plan options (HMO, POS, PPO, Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans) featuring flexible and innovative benefit designs. We administer fully-insured and self-insured funding arrangements with customized services for employers. Our uniquely developed provider networks offer high-quality, cost-effective, coordinated care and give our members access to doctors and hospitals throughout Massachusetts. We also offer a broad spectrum of services and programs to ensure our members, at every stage of life, remain as healthy and productive as possible. FCHP is a provider of care through its Summit ElderCareSM program, an advanced and completely integrated program that offers seniors and their caregivers an alternative to nursing home placement. Our continued commitment to deliver high-quality health care and exceptional customer service has earned FCHP consistent ratings as one of the nation’s top health plans, and in 2007, placed our Medicare and Medicaid health plans as the best in the nation. FCHP is the only health plan in Massachusetts to have been awarded “Excellent” Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for our HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products.