Sierra Military Health Services Inc. (SMHS), a subsidiary of Sierra Health Services Inc., announced that it has entered into a binding commitment with Health Net Federal Services (Health Net) of Rancho Cordova, California, a subsidiary of Health Net Inc. Under the agreement, Health Net will, among other things, acquire assets of SMHS primarily related to its provider network and regional TRICARE Service Center operations. With this transaction, SMHS effectively ends its formal protest of the recent award by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for Managed Care Support Services Contracts to serve TRICARE beneficiaries in the North Region.
Among the assets included in the transaction are some 11 commercial leases and all furnishings located at military treatment facility service centers as well as contracts with over 26,000 network providers now serving approximately 1.1 million TRICARE beneficiaries in Region 1, which included 13 northeastern states and the District of Columbia.
Both companies expect the agreement will facilitate the transition from SMHS, current holder of a prime contract with the DoD to Heath Net, the successor contractor. Assets acquired under the agreement will transfer upon the scheduled termination of SMHS’ contract on August 31, 2004. Additionally, the agreement creates a framework to retain quality jobs for those SMHS employees who are offered and choose to accept employment with Health Net.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“The real winners in this agreement are our TRICARE patients,” said David R. Nelson, president, SMHS. “TRICARE is undergoing an enormous transition. With this agreement, the continuity of care and quality of customer service in the local service center will be materially enhanced.”
Health Net’s acquisition of thousands of SMHS provider contracts also will diminish the impact of the contract change on beneficiaries by increasing the stability of the provider network during the transition.
“Less turnover in the provider network will help ensure that patients continue to have access to the doctors and other providers they prefer,” said Nelson. “Building a network from scratch is an enormous undertaking and this agreement will relieve Health Net of that burden. I’m also very pleased we could establish a framework that will help many wonderful and talented people keep their jobs and continue to serve the patients who have come to rely on them.”
TRICARE, formerly CHAMPUS, is a triple-option health care program for active duty military personnel and their families and military retirees and their families. TRICARE covers all seven branches of the uniformed services — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — through a partnership between the Department of Defense and private managed care contractors.
Sierra Military Health Services Inc. is a subsidiary of Sierra Health Services Inc., a Las Vegas-based diversified health care services company that operates health maintenance organizations and multi-specialty medical groups. Sierra’s subsidiaries serve over 1.2 million people through health benefit plans for employers, government programs, and individuals. More information can be found on the company’s Web site at www.sierrahealth.com. Information on the company’s military subsidiary can be found at www.sierramilitary.com.
Topics Mergers & Acquisitions
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