Anthem is taking a different approach to the handling of their rivalry with Aspire Health, revealing that they will buy the company. The acquisition will enable the insurance provider to expand the care it offers to the community covering healthcare services that take place outside of the hospital environment. The focus of Aspire Health has always been in palliative care for those facing long-term or terminal illnesses. Community-based programs in which clinicians participate attempt to help patients manage the symptoms of their illnesses. Common symptoms with which these services attempt to help patients cope include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Depression
What It Means For Anthem
The exact terms of the deal haven’t been publicly shared, but the acquisition is in line with Anthem’s agenda to compete with UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and Aetna. Those insurance providers have expanded into offering healthcare services directly. The goal is to provide the full range of healthcare services from insurance coverage to treatment. Currently, Anthem offers Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans across 14 states, but the acquisition indicates that they’re ready to branch out.
Gail Boudreaux, the chief executive officer for the company, released a statement, which confirms this new agenda for the healthcare insurance provider. Speaking about the acquisition of Aspire Health, Ms. Boudreaux said the company’s goal is to be able to provide better care options, which will help to optimize recoveries for patients. Anthem has already acquired CareMore Health and AIM, so Ms. Boudreaux is hopeful that the new acquisition will enable Anthem to offer a broader choice of programs and services. She views this acquisition as an opportunity to improve services to patients and to their partners, while also building up momentum for Anthem’s commercial growth. The ultimate goal for Anthem is to evolve the healthcare industry in a way that will benefit patients, as well as help them remain competitive in the commercial marketplace.
They strive to offer the latest and most advanced solutions in providing care that their customers can trust. The acquisition of Aspire Health falls in line with those goals, particularly because the services they will now be able to offer will expand healthcare options throughout the communities that Anthem services.
New Services For Anthem Customers
The expanded services that will now be offered will benefit the 74 million customers of its affiliates, as well as those 40 million individuals and families participating in Anthem-owned healthcare insurance plans. Aspire Health was founded by former U.S. Senator William Frist and Brad Smith. Prior to entering politics, Mr. Frist was a celebrated heart surgeon and he saw an opportunity to provide services that could better address the concerns of patients with long-term illnesses. He teamed up with Brad Smith, who is currently the CEO for the company.
Since its early beginnings, Aspire Health has expanded, offering services in 25 states across the country. They work with more than 20 health insurance plans, enabling people to benefit from their services in communities across the nation. In a recent statement, Mr. Smith shared his thoughts on the effectiveness of services offered by Aspire Health. He revealed that research has shown the vast benefits that programs designed to help those with long-term illnesses have for patients, the community, and for the healthcare industry. In addition to providing a higher level of satisfaction for patients and their families, Smith says these types of services reduce the need for hospitalization and cut total healthcare costs.
Expanded Reach
By partnering with Anthem, the Aspire Health chief executive officer says they will be able to expand their reach. The company can bring palliative care services to more communities, but also provide more services to those they currently treat. Smith hopes that the merging with Anthem will help his company continue to provide quality home based care services to the families who rely on it. Where long-term illnesses are concerned, the goal of most patients is to remain at home and out of the hospital, so the services offered by Aspire Health hold great value to the communities they serve.
As they expand, more families may benefit from these services. The ever-changing face of healthcare leaves many people feeling uncertain about their future access to quality care. By expanding the services they offer, Anthem, along with Aspire Health and its other affiliates, will be able to maximize care products and services throughout the country. Addressing palliative care has become a growing concern, as a larger percentage of people face advanced illnesses and terminal conditions. In expanding their commercial growth, Anthem is also broadening the availability of this type of care. This, in itself, makes good commercial sense for the growing company, but it also gives people hope and comfort, knowing they won’t be abandoned when they need quality healthcare services the most.