HMHP hospitals join Akron-based SummaCare

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The hospitals of Humility of Mary Health Partners (HMHP) — St. Elizabeth Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center and St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center — have joined the Akron-based SummaCare Medicare Advantage network.

Effective Jan. 1, 2013, Medicare-eligible residents of Mahoning and Trumbull counties who select the SummaCare Medicare Advantage plan will have access to all three HMHP hospitals.

Details of the available plans will be available two weeks before the start of the Medicare annual election period for 2013 benefits, which runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. A Medicare Advantage plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered through private insurers.

“We’ve chosen to partner with SummaCare because we have a shared commitment to quality and excellence in health care,” said Robert Shroder, president and chief executive officer of HMHP. “SummaCare has a deep knowledge of the way managed care plans work best, and a track record of excellence in coordinating quality care for Medicare beneficiaries.”

Established in 1993, SummaCare offers a full line of health plans including PPO plans and Medicare Advantage plans plus life, dental and vision plans. Through its network of more than 8,000 providers and more than 60 hospitals, SummaCare offers coverage to more than 225,000 members.

“We are pleased that St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph and St. Elizabeth Boardman will be joining SummaCare’s Medicare Advantage network,” said Marty Hauser, president of SummaCare Inc.