Akron, Ohio-based HealthSpan will dissolve its medical group, HealthSpan Physicians, on March 31, 2016, and close its 11 health facilities in Ohio.
HealthSpan began providing health insurance coverage and medical care to the more than 80,000 members of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio nearly three years ago. Now, HealthSpan is shifting away from the Kaiser HMO model, and dissolving its medical group.
HealthSpan said it expects most of its customers in Northeast Ohio will be able to keep their physicians, as many providers in HealthSpan Physicians are expected to transition their medical practice to Akron, Ohio-based Summa Physicians, Cleveland-based The MetroHealth System and Mercy Health-Lorain (Ohio).
If a member's current provider is not transitioning to a health system within the regional network, HealthSpan said it will help them find another provider in its network prior to April 1, 2016.
HealthSpan said closing the health centers will help serve patients and plan members by reducing costly duplication of services throughout Northeast Ohio.
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