Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Robbinsdale, Minn.-based North Memorial Health are winding down a joint venture called Blaze Health that involves 25 clinics.
North provides care throughout the Twin Cities through its specialty and primary care clinics, home care offering, medical transportation services and two hospitals: North Memorial Health Hospital and Maple Grove Hospital. Effective May 31, North will regain the 49 percent ownership stake in 25 primary care clinics, specialty care clinics, and hospice currently held by the parent company of Blue Cross. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“At North, our mission-driven teams remain focused on meeting the changing needs of the communities we serve throughout Hennepin County,” said J. Kevin Croston, M.D., chief executive officer of North Memorial Health, in a statement. “Blaze Health was born and launched from a pre-pandemic perspective. Just a few months later, the industry changed in ways that no one could have anticipated. I truly appreciate the collaboration with Blue Cross, both in our response to the pandemic and the work that went into the JV. I am confident we can best deliver on current and future priorities by continuing to collaborate and innovate though other approaches.”
The organizations said that patients would not experience any disruption in their healthcare benefits or medical care. The conclusion of the joint venture, which launched in January 2020, will have no impact on North as a participant in the Blue Cross provider network.
“Our new strategic plan at Blue Cross is built on the growth and expansion of value-based care initiatives with multiple care systems and providers throughout our network,” said Dana Erickson, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, in a statement. “Our experience working in an integrated healthcare model led to many productive insights and outcomes. I value the ongoing commitment we have with North Memorial Health to improving the health of our communities and I look forward to building upon the learnings that can benefit all Blue Cross members.”
The organizations touted some of the accomplishments of the joint venture. At all stages of the pandemic, Blue Cross and North worked to increase rates of vaccination; provide equitable access to testing and treatment; and care for populations most impacted by health inequities. In the spring of 2021, as COVID-19 vaccine eligibility grew and supplies increased, Blue Cross nurses staffed a North Memorial Health pop-up vaccination clinic in Brooklyn Center, Minn., in order to keep up with demand. The clinic administered 450 to 650 vaccines a day, with more than 65,000 vaccines delivered in total.
The new location of North Memorial Health Clinic – Blaine opened in October 2022 with an innovative “clinic-within-a clinic” to focus on care for local seniors. The senior clinic launched as a dedicated practice for Blue Cross Medicare Advantage members ages 65 and up. Starting in June 2023, the clinic will expand access to seniors with other health plans and insurance coverage.
