AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies Acquires Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, a national Medicaid managed care company, announced today that it has acquired Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania (CBHNP), a full-service behavioral health managed care organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. CBHNP, now a wholly owned subsidiary of AmeriHealth Mercy, serves over three million people with commercial insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.

AmeriHealth Mercy specializes in providing managed care services and management for publicly funded programs, with special expertise in Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP). The acquisition of CBHNP adds behavioral health expertise to the current AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies' product portfolio, which includes full-risk health plans, management and administrative services, PerformRx pharmacy benefit management, and the PerforMED care coordination program. As a subsidiary of AmeriHealth Mercy, CBHNP will maintain its existing business operations, facility, management team and associates, and will continue its mission of offering quality behavioral health care services to stakeholders in local communities.

AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel J. Hilferty stated, "We are very happy to welcome CBHNP into the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies. We believe the behavioral health clinical and management expertise of CBHNP combined with the market presence, Medicaid experience, and national reputation of AmeriHealth Mercy, will strengthen both organizations and offer significant new opportunities for growth." Mr. Hilferty added, "The ability to integrate medical and behavioral health care expertise will offer significant advantages to our state government clients and to the members we serve."

"AmeriHealth Mercy is a great partner for CBHNP because they share our mission and commitment to serving publicly insured populations," Richard S. Edley, Ph.D., President and CEO of CBHNP explained. "The acquisition of CBHNP by AmeriHealth Mercy will allow CBHNP to achieve its goals of growing nationally and thriving in an increasingly competitive marketplace, while continuing to serve local Pennsylvania communities."

With the acquisition of CBHNP, the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies solidifies its position as the premier managed care organization for publicly- insured populations, now offering physical and behavioral health managed care services and pharmacy benefit management covering over five million Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial lives nationwide.

About the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies

AmeriHealth Mercy and its affiliates comprise the largest family of Medicaid managed care plans in the United States, touching more than 2.4 million lives nationwide. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Mercy is the nation's expert and industry leader in the delivery of quality health care to low-income populations covered by publicly funded programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children's Health Insurance Programs, throughout the United States.

About Community Behavioral HealthCare Network of Pennsylvania (CBHNP)

CBHNP is a leading behavioral health service company providing services to insurers and government entities in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. Covering over 3.4 million lives, CBHNP specializes in providing innovative solutions for commercial and public entities. Founded by the Pennsylvania Community Providers Association and owned by providers, CBHNP has achieved its success through its partnership approach to contracting, its mission-driven philosophy, and its commitment to quality.