Avera Health will stop offering care under its employee health plan at three physician-owned practices as it continues to build its own orthopedic presence, the Argus Leader reports.
What you should know:
1. The Sioux Falls, S.D.-based health system will no longer cover orthopedic care for its employees at Sioux Falls-based providers Orthopedic Institute, Core Orthopedics and the Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital on Nov. 1.
2. Avera has a 40-person orthopedic care team, Avera spokesperson Kim Jensen said. Because of that, "Avera leaders have made the decision that Orthopedics Institute, Core Orthopedics and care at Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital will no longer be covered for members of our employee health plan."
3. Avera built its own care team after seven Core Orthopedics surgeons that had been contracting with Avera sold a surgery center to Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital and joined the Orthopedic Institute.
4. Toronto-based Medical Facilities Corp., has a majority ownership stake in Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital.