Allied National Partners With Healthplace America to Provide Significant Healthcare Savings

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and LISLE, Ill., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied National of Overland Park, Kansas and Healthplace America of Lisle, Illinois entered into an agreement to deliver cost savings to employer health plans while enhancing employee benefits with quality, savings and experience for surgery through Healthplace America's flagship product, the Healthplace Benefit(TM). To date, the Healthplace Benefit(TM) is the first -- and only -- comprehensive Surgery Benefit Management solution.

The Healthplace Benefit(TM) supplements employers' health plans with world-class U.S. healthcare facilities and surgeons who offer low, fixed-rate pricing in order to attract pre-paid patients from around the country. As a result, employers typically realize 30%-50% savings on major medical procedures -- such as heart surgery, joint replacement, spine surgery, cancer care, bariatric surgery and more -- while reducing re-admission and re-operations through high-quality outcomes the first time around. Additional cost savings are realized by eliminating unnecessary procedures with a unique Expert Opinion Program, included in the Healthplace Benefit(TM).

With the Healthplace Benefit(TM), health plan members share in the savings with no co-pays, deductibles or coinsurance while receiving superior medical care.* And in many cases, members receive a cash incentive that translates into significant personal out-of-pocket savings. What's more, members receive personalized attention from a Concierge Care Coordinator who guides them through the entire surgical process.

"The integration of the Healthplace Benefit(TM) with existing Allied National programs will improve surgical outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and significantly lower healthcare costs for all Allied National clients. The benefits of the Healthplace Benefit(TM) for employers and employees closely align with other Allied National programs which make our partnership an excellent strategic fit," said Healthplace America CEO, Ken Erickson.

Operating as a family-owned company since 1970, Allied National is a third party administrator that specializes in the management and administration of fully insured small employer benefit plans. "In a crowded and price sensitive marketplace, our products need features that differentiate them from the competition," said Allied National CEO, Bill Ashley. "The Healthplace America program is a tremendous benefit for the consumer. We believe making it available to all health plan members will benefit them and assist in our goal of product differentiation."

About Allied National

Allied National is a third party administrator that specializes in the management and administration of fully insured small employer benefit plans. Operating as a family-owned company since 1970, Allied National takes pride in the history of fast and friendly service they provide to their customers. The company's personal service sets them apart from the large, traditional companies in the industry. For more information, visit http://www.alliednational.com or call 1-800-825-7531.

About Healthplace America:

Healthplace America was organized to provide cost, quality and experience management for the $700 billion surgery industry that has remained generally unmanaged. Healthplace America is the first -- and only -- business to design and implement a comprehensive Surgery Benefit Management solution for health plans through its flagship product, Healthplace Benefit(TM). When surgery is the best treatment option, the Healthplace Benefit(TM) enables distinguished medical providers throughout the U.S. to compete to attract patients on the basis of quality measures, convenience and price. In turn, institutional healthcare buyers gain access to high-quality medical facilities on a fixed- rate pricing basis, eliminating the cost and complexity of billing and claims adjudication and delivering significant savings as compared to prevailing negotiated costs of U.S. providers. What's more, Healthplace America provides all administrative, case management, travel and logistics services for each member utilizing the Healthplace Benefit(TM), resulting in a seamless connection between patients and providers.

Healthplace America is headquartered in suburban Chicago. Learn more by visiting http://www.healthplaceamerica.com or call toll-free 1-877-858-0123.

Healthplace America is funded in part by Ziegler HealthVest Partners, LP, a venture capital fund investing in early to middle-stage healthcare support services, healthcare IT and wellness.

* May vary at discretion of employer.