News Release
CONTACT Behavioral Health Announces Agreement with LifeWise Health Plan of Arizona
Dates Release: 4/12/04
CONTACT Behavioral Health Services, one of the largest managed behavioral health care organizations in the Southwest, today announced it has signed a contract to provide behavioral health benefits to customers of the state's newest health insurer, LifeWise Health Plan of Arizona.
CONTACT is a wholly owned subsidiary of Schaller Anderson Behavioral Health, Incorporated. LifeWise offers commercial groups a wide array of health care products through a statewide network of 6,546 physicians and providers as well as 196 outpatient diagnostic and treatment facilities in Maricopa County.
LifeWise Health Plan of Arizona, headquartered in Scottsdale, is an affiliate of a family of companies headquartered in Washington state. The companies employ about 3,000 people and provide health care coverage and related services to 1.5 million subscribers and their families in four states.
Cliff Klima, president and Chief Executive Officer of LifeWise Health Plan of Arizona, said LifeWise gives Arizonans "more flexibility and choice, and strong working relationships with physicians.
LifeWise intends to offer individual coverage in the future, he said.
"Our products provide cost-effective and comprehensive coverage options," Klima said. "and we are very pleased that CONTACT will be our behavioral health benefits provider. Its reputation for service and expertise is well established in Arizona."
"We are very pleased to announce this new relationship between CONTACT and LifeWise," said Don J. Fowls, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Schaller Anderson Behavioral Health, Incorporated. "CONTACT's extensive expertise, clinics and provider network will give LifeWise members a variety of ways to access their covered behavioral health services."
Founded in 1986, Schaller Anderson and its affiliates provide management of behavioral health care and health care administration for both Medicaid and self-funded plans. Schaller Anderson's wholly owned subsidiaries administer health plans in four states—Arizona, California, Maryland, and Missouri. The company also has a health care administrative services agreement with the state of Tennessee.
CONTACT was founded in 1979 and has been an industry leader in the provision of behavioral health care, EAP services and alcohol and drug treatment services for more than two decades. More than one million people can access their services, and CONTACT has more than 800 providers.
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