August 13, 2007
Replacement plans for U-M employees, retirees, graduate students and dependents announced
The University Human Resources office has announced that U-M Premier Care will be a new choice for medical coverage in 2008 during the Open Enrollment period for U-M faculty, staff and retireess, which will be Oct. 8-19, 2007. The new plan was created by the University to replace the M-CARE HMO when all M-CARE plans (HMO, PPO and POS plans) are discontinued at the end of 2007.
Aug. 1, 2007
Marianne Udow named director of UMHS-BCBSM joint venture
The board of directors of the Center for Healthcare Quality & Transformation -- a joint venture between the U-M Health System and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan created as part of the sale of M-CARE -- has named Marianne Udow as the organization’s first director. The joint venture is dedicated to improving the quality of Michigan’s health care, and transforming the way patient care is delivered in the state and beyond. For more information, read this press release.
Note: The name Michigan HealthQuarters, which was used during the initial announcement of the joint venture, is no longer being used.
Feb. 19, 2007
BCBSM and U-M Health System launch Michigan HealthQuarters, a new organization devoted to improving Michigan’s health care
Joint venture created as part of M-CARE sale begins search for its first executive director and undertakes U-M employee diabetes quality project as its first effort
A new Michigan organization is dedicated to improving the quality of the state’s health care system, and transforming the way patient care is delivered in the state and beyond. Called Michigan HealthQuarters LLC, it is a joint venture of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the University of Michigan Health System.
In recent weeks, the organization held the first meeting of its board of managers, launched a national search for its first executive director, and chose the first project that it will undertake: evaluating if lower prescription drug co-payments for people with diabetes can improve the processes and outcomes of diabetes care.
The rapid series of events follows the University of Michigan’s sale of its M-CARE health plan to BCBSM and its HMO subsidiary, Blue Care Network, which was finalized on Dec. 31, 2006. The sale terms included the creation of a separate joint venture aimed at improving the quality, safety, efficiency and appropriateness of health care in Michigan. BCBSM has committed up to $10 million to fund Michigan HealthQuarters, and UMHS and BCBSM are equal partners in the venture.
Michigan HealthQuarters LLC news release
Jan. 4, 2007 - With the closing of the sale of M-CARE to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network on Dec. 31, 2006, M-CARE employees received official word about their employment status.
In all, 133 of the 340 employees have been offered permanent positions with BCN. An additional 200 have been offered employment on a leased basis; they will remain University employees during the time of their lease but will work for BCN during the transition period. About 75 percent of these 200 employees have been notified that their lease will last between six and 12 months beginning Jan. 1, 2007; the rest will be on three-month leases.
No matter what the length of their lease or the length of their employment with the University, all of the leased employees will receive 30 days notice before the end of their work with BCN. After those 30 days of work, they will be paid by the University for 30 or 60 days while they receive intensive help from a newly established Transition Center to pursue jobs at the University, at BCBSM or BCN, or in the community. Those who have worked for the University for less than 10 years will receive 30 days' pay, those with 10 or more years will receive 60 days' pay.
The Transition Center is already up and running, to offer leased employees resume-writing help, decision-making workshops, and other support. As the employees become ready to actively seek jobs after their work for BCN ends, Human Resources staff from the U-M Health System and BCN, and representatives from the career transition firm Right Management, will be available to help them. The Center is already assessing what jobs are becoming available at U-M, BCBSM/BCN and in the community, or will become available later this year. Throughout the transition period, the center will continue to match open jobs to the skills of employees who will need a match, to give interview coaching and practice sessions, and to work intensively with each employee to find a position that meets their skills or training to enhance their skills.
Under U-M Reduction in Force policies, employees who have been notified that they will be laid off receive preferential consideration in hiring decisions for U-M jobs.
Dec. 29. 2006 - Michigan’s Attorney General today approved the proposed sale of the M-CARE managed care organization by the University of Michigan to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and its Blue Care Network subsidiary. The sale was also cleared in Dec. 22 by the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services, and in November by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The completion of the approval process clears the way for the sale to be closed (finalized) on Dec. 31. On that date, M-CARE and its subsidiary M-CAID will become part of the Blue Care Network. M-CARE’s subsidiary, Michigan Health Insurance Corp., which administers M-CARE’s variety of preferred-provider plans or PPOs, will become part of BCBSM.
Most M-CARE employees have been offered either employment at BCN under a lease agreement from U-M, or full employment by BCN. Well over 100 employees thus far have been offered full employment positions at BCN.
The decision to sell M-CARE, first announced in September, will allow the U-M Health System to direct its resources toward its core missions of patient care, research and education. The sale will also lead to the formation of a joint venture between UMHS and BCBSM that will foster a variety of health care research and quality-improvement projects.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan press release
More Information:
E-mail from UMHS CEO Robert Kelch, M.D., to employees (12/22/06) 
U-M sale of M-CARE clears state approval (Press Release 12/22/06)
The U-M Health System offered a public statement in support of the transaction, reiterating our key reasons for seeking a sale of M-CARE. (posted 11/13/06)
U-M Board of Regents approves sale of M-CARE to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan & Blue Care Network (Press Release 9/22/06)
Impact of the M-CARE sale on employee benefits: A Message from Laurita Thomas and Deborah Childs (posted 9.22.06)
Dr. Kelch's PowerPoint Presentation to U-M Board of Regents (posted 9.25.06)
U-M Board of Regents approves sale of M-CARE to BCBSM (posted 9.22.06)
Joint Venture Fact Sheet (posted 9.19.06)
Message from Dr. Kelch to Health System Faculty and Staff (posted 9.12.06)
U-M Health System in talks with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to sell M-CARE health plans (Press Release 9.12.06)
Background on M-CARE (posted 9.12.06)
Why we're pursuing a sale of M-CARE:
Dr. Kelch's
Media Conference Call 9/12/06 (posted 9.12.06) |
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