Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin Signs PPO Contract With Prevea Health Network.

Business Editors, Health Writers

FOND DU LAC, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 4, 2001

Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin has signed an agreement with Prevea Health Network of Green Bay to provide an option for Blue Cross & Blue Shield customers to select a broad range of physician, hospital and related health services to Blue Cross & Blue Shield members in northeast and east central Wisconsin.

The agreement, effective September 1, 2001, allows employers with Blue Cross & Blue Shield group coverage, the option of choosing the Network Health Prevea PPO option, which includes a newly created preferred provider panel that offers the services of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals from both Green Bay-based Prevea Health Network and Menasha-based Network Health Plan.

"We are committed to providing the people of Northeast Wisconsin with the broadest choice possible when selecting health care services. Our new relationship with Prevea Health Network and Network Health Plan allows us to make high quality services more accessible to our clients," said Al Wearing, Vice President for Blue Cross & Blue Shield's Northeast Region.

Network Health Prevea PPO, a reciprocal agreement between Prevea Health Network and Network Health Plan, represents nearly 2,000 physicians and other health care professionals and 21 hospitals in 28 counties in northeastern Wisconsin. The primary service area includes the counties of Brown, Door, Manitowoc, Oconto, Marinette, Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Waupaca, Waushara, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Green Lake and surrounding counties.

"With Prevea Health Network's and Network Health's combined physician, hospital and medical professional panels, we are prepared to deliver quality healthcare services to Blue Cross & Blue Shield members who select the Network Health Prevea PPO," said Mark Minsloff, Prevea Health Network President and CEO. "We anticipate this to be very well received in the employer community."

"Affinity Health System/Network Health Plan is excited to have reached an agreement with Blue Cross & Blue Shield," said Kevin Nolan, Affinity Health System President and CEO.

According to Wearing, the new agreement will allow employers, employees and their families the choice of an extensive selection of health care providers. This relationship creates improved access to medical care for consumers who work in one community and live in another. Many businesses have multiple locations and employees living in a larger geographic area. This new relationship helps them provide their employees with greater access to high quality health care.

Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin is the state's largest health insurer. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Blue Cross offers a flexible product portfolio with a broad range of options for small, medium and large groups, as well as individual plans for people who don't have access to group coverage. The Blue Cross Internet address is www.bluecrosswisconsin.com