by Kimberly Trone on 2013-12-04
Individuals who purchase private insurance from Molina Healthcare of California (Molina Healthcare) will have the option of receiving services at Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) and more than 60 of its outpatient primary and specialty care clinics beginning Jan. 1, 2014.
The new agreement between RCRMC and Molina Healthcare of California represents a major departure from RCRMC’s traditional financial model, which has primarily relied on Medicaid and federal reimbursements for low-income and uninsured patients, said RCRMC’s Chief Executive Officer Lowell Johnson.
Johnson said the relationship with Molina Healthcare will allow private insurance buyers the opportunity to access RCRMC’s services through Covered California, the state healthcare exchange. Molina Healthcare is one of 11 insurers offering coverage through Covered California, and individuals purchasing private insurance from Molina Healthcare would have the option to seek services from RCRMC.
“This is a significant first step toward diversifying our payer mix and expanding community access to our quality services and innovative programs,” Johnson said, adding that RCRMC’s health system is currently being overhauled to provide customer services that will satisfy expectations in the new consumer-driven marketplace.
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone, a pharmacist by profession, applauded RCRMC’s agreement with Molina Healthcare. Stone has long advocated for the 120-year-old Riverside County public teaching hospital to improve its financial stability with private insurance agreements and new sources of revenue. With healthcare reform giving patients more options, Stone said he is pleased to see RCRMC getting a foothold in the private insurance market.
“Riverside County residents deserve a top-notch teaching hospital, close to home, where they can receive state-of-the-art treatment in a caring and compassionate environment,” Stone said.
“RCRMC is rapidly evolving into the beacon of healthcare excellence that many patients currently are seeking outside of Riverside County.”
”Molina Healthcare is happy to expand its network in Riverside County for our prospective Covered California members,” said Richard Chambers, President of Molina Healthcare of California. “With this agreement, Riverside County Regional Medical Center is a key partner for all our lines of business which include Covered California, Medi-Cal, and Medicare Advantage."