Medical News

PLEASANTON, CA June 16, 2004 — In their commitment to help employers continue to provide quality healthcare coverage options for their employees, the AccessMedical Provider Network, the San Francisco Bay Area?s largest PPO, announced that is offering the AccessMedicalCard Affordable Health Program directly to both small and large employers in the Bay Area. By eliminating claims processing and billing this innovative program provides discounts of 40% .. directly to employees.

With over 600 providers in the Bay Area, the physician owned PPO offers a complete integrated outpatient health program with plans starting at just $19.95 a month for employers. The AccessMedicalCard program is not insurance but rather an innovative, doctor-direct-to-consumer, health program that provides discounts of 40% for most outpatient medical, dental and mental health services. It is an ideal, low cost health benefit for employees and contracted workers who are not eligible for employer sponsored health insurance.

Employers can save an average of $1,000 per year per employee by switching coverage to a high deductible, major medical insurance plan available through the AccessMedical Affordable Health Program. By increasing deductibles to $2,500 or $5,000, employers can reduce health insurance premiums for covered employees by as much as $100 per month per employee. Employees can then obtain significant savings on medical care costs below the deductible levels with the AccessMedicalCard, and may qualify for a Health Savings Account. Employers can also obtain low cost, Major Medical Hospital Insurance as an added feature to the AccessMedicalCard program.

Services that are also available at significantly reduced fees include advanced diagnostic imaging (PET, MRI, CT and X-Ray) at 20 locations around the Bay Area, outpatient surgery with overnight care at 16 locations around the Bay Area, Laboratory and Pathology services at six labs with draw stations conveniently located around the Bay Area and discounts of 30% at over 100 pharmacy locations in the Bay Area. Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging services are offered at discounts of 40% but, when compared with hospital prices for identical procedures, discounts range from 50% to 90%.

The AccessMedical Affordable Health Program has expanded its product line to include discounts on walk-in and in-office specialty urgent care services, cosmetic and general dental services, cosmetic medical services and discounts of 30% on prescription drugs.

“Our providers can pass on significant savings to employers because we have structured the program to eliminate most of the paperwork that usually adds 30% or more to the costs of healthcare?, says Neal Gilbert, President and Chief Operating Officer. He adds, ?We have focused our efforts on offering affordable choices to employers without limiting plan options to employees”. Says Steve Anderson, Senior Vice President, ?AccessMedicalCard?s newest health program is the VIP AccessMedicalCard PPO Plan, a low-cost, fee-for-service PPO product. With over 2,000 dentists to choose from in the San Francisco Bay Area, employees can obtain discounts on cosmetic dental services such as the BriteSmile procedure and Invisalign braces. Discounts on cosmetic medical procedures are also available such as Botox, collagen and the LASIK procedure.

We have taken the confusion and paperwork out of outpatient medical care?, say Neal Gilbert. Gilbert adds, ?One major insurance company recently announced that it offers employers as many as 5,000 health plan options to pick from which makes administration of a health plan almost impossible and very costly for an employer. By offering a comprehensive plan with direct doctor-to-employer pricing the AccessMedicalCard make plan selection simple, eliminates claims processing and most administrative costs.?

The VIP AccessMedicalCard PPO Plan:
This new outpatient PPO plan is not insurance but an innovative, reduced-fee health program that offers affordable monthly fees ranging from $19.95 for employer groups of 1 or more employees to as low as $14.95/month for groups with 50 or more employees and/or contracted workers.

Program features include:
-No exclusions for pre-existing conditions, everyone is accepted.
-Monthly dues do not vary based on age
-Low cost family plans are available
-No limitations on use of medical, dental or mental health services.
-Urgent Care available at walk-in urgent care centers at 40% off. Urgent Care available at the offices of leading specialists on a same-day or next day basis for a surcharge of only $99. Fees of specialists, such as orthopedists and gynecologists are discounted by 40%. Patients can avoid bills of several thousands of dollars for non-emergency visits to a hospital emergency room.
-Providers are conveniently located in close proximity to local hospitals and most PPO network physicians are on the medical staff of local hospitals.

Say, Michael Ranahan, MD, a practicing gynecologist in Pleasanton, CA and a member of the Board of Directors of the AccessMedical parent company, ?With 1.2 million Bay Area residents without health insurance, the doctors in the AccessMedical Provider Network have banded together to address this problem. This is a cost effective, affordable health program for those who do not have insurance coverage or for those with high deductible health insurance plans.? Adds Dr. Ranahan, ?AccessMedicalCard is also an ideal supplement for those with health insurance because of the discounts available on cosmetic medical services, dental services and mental health services not covered by insurance.?

Low cost, Major Medical plans are also available to cover hospital costs which are not covered under the AccessMedicalCard program. ?Our goal is to keep members out of the hospital by offering outpatient surgery with overnight care and two levels of urgent care?, says Gilbert. He adds, ?Hospital costs are increasing by 15% to 20% each year with an average daily stay in a Bay Area hospital costing between $10,000 to $20,000 per day.” Adds John Wilhelmy, MD, a practicing orthopedic surgeon who is also on the company?s Board of Directors, ?The AccessMedicalCard program offers a low cost alternative to many hospital services. For example the services available at discounts of 40% at the Sequoia Surgical Pavilion, Walnut Creek, CA, located minutes from a local hospital, include outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy and rehab, pain management and the offices of 19 orthopedic surgeons?

Medical Management Insurance Services, a registered Independent Agent of the Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company, provides a range of major medical insurance options for those who want to add major medical coverage to the AccessMedicalCard program.

The AccessMedical Provider Network and the AccessMedicalCard program are owned by Surgical Care Partners, Inc. Headquartered in Pleasanton, CA. Surgical Care Partners, Inc. is partially owned by over 350 physicians in the Bay Area. More information is available at www.AccessMedicalCard.com or by calling (925) 460-8895.

AccessMedicalCard?, AccessDentistCard? and AccessDermaPlastCard? symbols are registered service marks of Surgical Care Partners, Inc. For further information, please contact Neal Gilbert, President at ngilbert@AccessMedicalCard.com

SOURCE Surgical Care Partners, Inc. Web site: http://www.AccessMedicalCard.com

PLEASANTON, CA June 16, 2004 — In their commitment to help employers continue to provide quality healthcare coverage options for their employees, the AccessMedical Provider Network, the San Francisco Bay Area?s largest PPO, announced that is offering the AccessMedicalCard Affordable Health Program directly to both small and large employers in the Bay Area. By eliminating claims processing and billing this innovative program provides discounts of 40% .. directly to employees.

With over 600 providers in the Bay Area, the physician owned PPO offers a complete integrated outpatient health program with plans starting at just $19.95 a month for employers. The AccessMedicalCard program is not insurance but rather an innovative, doctor-direct-to-consumer, health program that provides discounts of 40% for most outpatient medical, dental and mental health services. It is an ideal, low cost health benefit for employees and contracted workers who are not eligible for employer sponsored health insurance.

Employers can save an average of $1,000 per year per employee by switching coverage to a high deductible, major medical insurance plan available through the AccessMedical Affordable Health Program. By increasing deductibles to $2,500 or $5,000, employers can reduce health insurance premiums for covered employees by as much as $100 per month per employee. Employees can then obtain significant savings on medical care costs below the deductible levels with the AccessMedicalCard, and may qualify for a Health Savings Account. Employers can also obtain low cost, Major Medical Hospital Insurance as an added feature to the AccessMedicalCard program.

Services that are also available at significantly reduced fees include advanced diagnostic imaging (PET, MRI, CT and X-Ray) at 20 locations around the Bay Area, outpatient surgery with overnight care at 16 locations around the Bay Area, Laboratory and Pathology services at six labs with draw stations conveniently located around the Bay Area and discounts of 30% at over 100 pharmacy locations in the Bay Area. Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging services are offered at discounts of 40% but, when compared with hospital prices for identical procedures, discounts range from 50% to 90%.

The AccessMedical Affordable Health Program has expanded its product line to include discounts on walk-in and in-office specialty urgent care services, cosmetic and general dental services, cosmetic medical services and discounts of 30% on prescription drugs.

“Our providers can pass on significant savings to employers because we have structured the program to eliminate most of the paperwork that usually adds 30% or more to the costs of healthcare?, says Neal Gilbert, President and Chief Operating Officer. He adds, ?We have focused our efforts on offering affordable choices to employers without limiting plan options to employees”. Says Steve Anderson, Senior Vice President, ?AccessMedicalCard?s newest health program is the VIP AccessMedicalCard PPO Plan, a low-cost, fee-for-service PPO product. With over 2,000 dentists to choose from in the San Francisco Bay Area, employees can obtain discounts on cosmetic dental services such as the BriteSmile procedure and Invisalign braces. Discounts on cosmetic medical procedures are also available such as Botox, collagen and the LASIK procedure.

We have taken the confusion and paperwork out of outpatient medical care?, say Neal Gilbert. Gilbert adds, ?One major insurance company recently announced that it offers employers as many as 5,000 health plan options to pick from which makes administration of a health plan almost impossible and very costly for an employer. By offering a comprehensive plan with direct doctor-to-employer pricing the AccessMedicalCard make plan selection simple, eliminates claims processing and most administrative costs.?

The VIP AccessMedicalCard PPO Plan:
This new outpatient PPO plan is not insurance but an innovative, reduced-fee health program that offers affordable monthly fees ranging from $19.95 for employer groups of 1 or more employees to as low as $14.95/month for groups with 50 or more employees and/or contracted workers.

Program features include:
-No exclusions for pre-existing conditions, everyone is accepted.
-Monthly dues do not vary based on age
-Low cost family plans are available
-No limitations on use of medical, dental or mental health services.
-Urgent Care available at walk-in urgent care centers at 40% off. Urgent Care available at the offices of leading specialists on a same-day or next day basis for a surcharge of only $99. Fees of specialists, such as orthopedists and gynecologists are discounted by 40%. Patients can avoid bills of several thousands of dollars for non-emergency visits to a hospital emergency room.
-Providers are conveniently located in close proximity to local hospitals and most PPO network physicians are on the medical staff of local hospitals.

Say, Michael Ranahan, MD, a practicing gynecologist in Pleasanton, CA and a member of the Board of Directors of the AccessMedical parent company, ?With 1.2 million Bay Area residents without health insurance, the doctors in the AccessMedical Provider Network have banded together to address this problem. This is a cost effective, affordable health program for those who do not have insurance coverage or for those with high deductible health insurance plans.? Adds Dr. Ranahan, ?AccessMedicalCard is also an ideal supplement for those with health insurance because of the discounts available on cosmetic medical services, dental services and mental health services not covered by insurance.?

Low cost, Major Medical plans are also available to cover hospital costs which are not covered under the AccessMedicalCard program. ?Our goal is to keep members out of the hospital by offering outpatient surgery with overnight care and two levels of urgent care?, says Gilbert. He adds, ?Hospital costs are increasing by 15% to 20% each year with an average daily stay in a Bay Area hospital costing between $10,000 to $20,000 per day.” Adds John Wilhelmy, MD, a practicing orthopedic surgeon who is also on the company?s Board of Directors, ?The AccessMedicalCard program offers a low cost alternative to many hospital services. For example the services available at discounts of 40% at the Sequoia Surgical Pavilion, Walnut Creek, CA, located minutes from a local hospital, include outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy and rehab, pain management and the offices of 19 orthopedic surgeons?

Medical Management Insurance Services, a registered Independent Agent of the Blue Shield of California Life & Health Insurance Company, provides a range of major medical insurance options for those who want to add major medical coverage to the AccessMedicalCard program.

The AccessMedical Provider Network and the AccessMedicalCard program are owned by Surgical Care Partners, Inc. Headquartered in Pleasanton, CA. Surgical Care Partners, Inc. is partially owned by over 350 physicians in the Bay Area. More information is available at www.AccessMedicalCard.com or by calling (925) 460-8895.

AccessMedicalCard?, AccessDentistCard? and AccessDermaPlastCard? symbols are registered service marks of Surgical Care Partners, Inc. For further information, please contact Neal Gilbert, President at ngilbert@AccessMedicalCard.com

SOURCE Surgical Care Partners, Inc. Web site: http://www.AccessMedicalCard.com