Madison & Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Quartz and Aurora Health Care are partnering to launch a Medicare Advantage HMO plan in 2021 to enhance access to high-quality, coordinated, affordable health care for seniors across eastern Wisconsin. The two organizations announced plans to collaborate earlier this year, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have approved the joint Medicare Advantage plan.
The Aurora Health Quartz Medicare Advantage (HMO) plan combines the strength of two of Wisconsin’s leading health care organizations. Administered by Quartz and powered by Aurora Health Care’s vast, high-quality network, the plan will be available for selection during Medicare’s annual open enrollment, Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and goes into effect on Jan. 1.
“Collaborating with Aurora Health Care provides Quartz with a great opportunity to offer the region’s only available 5-Star Medicare Advantage product to both individuals who are new to Medicare, as well as those looking to switch to a 5-Star-rated Medicare Advantage plan,” said Mark Selna, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Quartz. “We look forward to serving Aurora Health Care patients in the greater Milwaukee region.”
Making care more affordable, the plan includes copays and monthly premiums as low as $0. Patients will have access to all Aurora Health Care providers and sites of care. They also get virtual visit options and the Advocate Aurora Health LiveWell app, which can help them easily manage appointments, test results, and other care.
“As a national leader in population health, we are committed to leading the transformation to better health care value to help more people and communities live well,” said Advocate Aurora Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Gary Stuck. “The communities we serve in eastern Wisconsin will have better access to our substantial network of top clinicians, making it easier for them to find the affordable care they need to encourage healthy living and preventative care.”
The Quartz Medicare Advantage (HMO) plan has been awarded the highest overall rating of 5 out of 5 Stars from the CMS for the 2021 plan year, marking the ninth time the plan has achieved the 5-Star quality designation. This is the only available Medicare Advantage plan to receive this designation in Wisconsin.
The Quartz and Advocate Aurora collaboration also includes Aurora Health Care physicians and sites of care in select Quartz commercial networks to expand access to high-quality primary and specialty care for current Quartz members.
Media Contacts:
Advocate Aurora Health
Media Contact:
Quartz
Christina Ott
christina.ott@QuartzBenefits.com
608-471-4766
About Quartz
Quartz Health Solutions, Inc. (Quartz) is jointly owned by UW Health, Gundersen Health System, and UnityPoint Health. The company manages four nationally recognized, provider-sponsored health insurance plans: Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Quartz Health Plan Corporation, Quartz Health Plan MN Corporation, and Quartz Health Insurance Corporation. As a third-party administrator, Quartz also services self-funded health plans. Through an extensive provider network, Quartz focuses on local, community-based health care and services for more than 350,000 customers who live in southern and western Wisconsin, parts of Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota. Quartz maintains offices in Madison, Sauk City, and Onalaska, Wisconsin. Quartz Health Solutions, Inc., Quartz Health Benefit Plans Corporation, Quartz Health Plan Corporation, Quartz Health Plan MN Corporation, and Quartz Health Insurance Corporation are separate legal entities. For more information, visit QuartzBenefits.com.
About Advocate Aurora Health
Aurora Health Care is part of Advocate Aurora Health, one of the 10 largest not-for-profit, integrated health systems in the United States and a leading employer in the Midwest with 75,000 team members, including more than 22,000 nurses and the region’s largest employed medical staff and home health organization. A national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, the system serves nearly 3 million patients annually in Illinois and Wisconsin across more than 500 sites of care. Advocate Aurora is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies and is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, and pediatrics. The organization contributed $2.1 billion in charitable care and services to its communities in 2018. We help people live well.
About Advocate Aurora Safe Care Promise
Health and safety is our highest priority. The Advocate Aurora Safe Care Promise provides additional measures to protect patients and our team members. In person or online, we are here to ensure safe, comfortable and convenient care, and have taken additional measures to protect patients and their families including:
- Masking – Ensuring anyone who enters our locations is wearing a mask. If they don’t have one, we’ll gladly provide it.
- Screening – Taking the temperature and asking questions about symptoms and exposure to everyone who enters our locations.
- Social distancing – Rearranging our waiting areas and staggering appointment times to reduce traffic and create safe spaces.
- Virtual check-in – Facilitating check-ins with digital devices for seamless, low-contact arrivals.
- Enhanced Cleaning – Adding additional cleaning precautions in all areas and added handwashing/sanitizer stations.