2008-10-06 19:28:00 -

- AmeriHealth New Jersey signed a new agreement with the medical cost management firm, MultiPlan, Inc., that gives AmeriHealth members access to a national network of health care providers on an in-network benefits level.

AmeriHealth members with national access riders added to their AmeriHealth preferred provider organization (PPO) or point-of-service plus medical plans are now eligible to use MultiPlan's

PHCS PPO Network. MultiPlan's national PPO network consists of 525,000 health care professionals, 3,800 hospitals, and 66,000 ancillary care facilities. Access to this expansive provider network will assist those members seeking care outside of AmeriHealth's service area, which includes New Jersey, Delaware, and parts of Pennsylvania.

"AmeriHealth's agreement with MultiPlan underscores our commitment to provide our members and their families access to quality, affordable health care through a broad network of hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers," said Michael Munoz, AmeriHealth vice president, sales and marketing. "We chose MultiPlan because it's one of the largest, most well-known, independent PPO networks in the country."

About AmeriHealth

AmeriHealth New Jersey provides health care coverage to nearly 230,000 New Jersey residents. The company's contracted hospital and physician network includes thousands of physicians at 76 hospitals throughout its service area.

AmeriHealth New Jersey has offices in Mt. Laurel and Iselin. The company's managed care plan, AmeriHealth HMO Inc. of New Jersey, has received the highest possible accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) by meeting NCQA's rigorous evaluation standards. AmeriHealth New Jersey is part of AmeriHealth, Inc, a growing group of insurance and health care companies whose product portfolio includes health insurance, workers' compensation, property and casualty insurance, and management services. For more information on AmeriHealth, visit our website at www.amerihealth.com.

About MultiPlan

MultiPlan is the industry's most comprehensive provider of medical cost management solutions. The company provides over 2,100 clients with a single gateway to a host of primary, complementary and out-of-network strategies for managing the financial risks associated with health care claims. Clients include large and mid-sized insurers, third party administrators, self-funded plans, HMOs and other entities that pay claims on behalf of health plans. Services include PHCS Network, the country's leading independent primary PPO network; The MultiPlan Network, the national network most often used to complement a primary PPO; fee negotiation services; a Wisconsin-based primary PPO and a national transplant network. Approximately 600,000 network providers participate with MultiPlan through these networks. Incorporated in 1980, MultiPlan is owned by a group of investors led by The Carlyle Group. For more information, visit www.Multiplan.com.

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