Anthem Acquires Managed Care Company in Florida

Anthem, Inc, increased its managed care footprint in the state of Florida. On Monday, the company has entered into an agreement to acquire Simply Healthcare Holdings, Inc.

Through its 2 subsidiaries, Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc, and Better Health, Inc, the company Anthem is acquiring is a leading managed care company for Medicaid and Medicare enrollees in Florida.

“This acquisition aligns with Anthem’s strategy for continued growth in our government business division,” Joseph Swedish, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Anthem, Inc, said in a statement. “Simply Healthcare’s strong presence and solid provider relationships further strengthens our Medicaid and Medicare companies’ positioning and advances the companies’ capabilities to more effectively and efficiently serve these populations in Florida — a key market for growth.”

Simply Healthcare services more than 170,000 Medicaid and 22,000 Medicare members in Florida. After the acquisition is complete, Anthem will serve more than 500,000 Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in the state.

Anthem also announced that Simply Healthcare offers just one of only 4 HIV/AIDS special needs health plans in the country. In Florida, alone, there are approximately 106,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, according to the press release.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed in Anthem’s announcement of the acquisition, which is expected to close in the first half of 2015. The deal is also subject to state regulatory approvals.

The Sun Sentinel reported that after the acquisition is completed, Simply Healthcare will continue to operate under its current name and brands as an Anthem subsidiary.

“Both organizations share the vision of providing our members with the tools necessary to enable them to achieve optimal health through an outstanding network of providers and high touch, local customer service delivered with the highest level of respect and service,” Lourdes T. Rivas, CEO of Simply Healthcare Plans, said.