FARGO, N.D. – CHI Health locations in North Dakota and Minnesota have joined the growing list of health systems participating in the NextBlue of North Dakota (NextBlue) Medicare Advantage (MA) provider network.
CHI Health is a part of the Midwest division of CommonSpirit Health. It is comprised of CHI St. Alexius Health, which is the largest healthcare delivery system in central and western North Dakota, as well as several hospitals, clinics, outpatient services and home health delivery systems throughout North Dakota and in Breckenridge, Minn., that will all be in-network for NextBlue members.
“CHI Health is excited to work with NextBlue to offer more options to Medicare patients,” said E.J. Kuiper, CommonSpirit Midwest Division President, CHI Health CEO. “Partnering with a fast-growing plan like NextBlue gives even more seniors the opportunity to access our system through a local Medicare Advantage plan that matches our commitment to deliver excellent care, service and support.”
NextBlue is an affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) and offers seniors all-in-one Medicare Advantage plans with low premiums with rich benefits. The plan recently received a 4.5-star rating for plan year 2023 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Part of that rating is based on how well the plan partners with providers to take care of member needs.
With CHI Health’s family of health delivery systems joining its network, NextBlue now offers one of the broadest networks of acute care and critical access hospitals of any Medicare Advantage plan in the state of North Dakota.
“CHI locations joining the NextBlue network is a big win for NextBlue members,” said NextBlue Plan President Beth West. “A key priority is growing our network to make it more convenient and accessible for our members to get the care they need. Adding CHI Health is another step that has helped us make sure we give our members access to one of the broadest networks they can find in a North Dakota Medicare Advantage plan.”
For more information about NextBlue or to learn how to enroll, visit NextBlueND.com, call 1-844-753-8038 (TTY: 711) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, with weekend hours through Mar. 31, or attend a NextBlue Medicare benefits event. For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call 800-280-2583. TTY users call 711. Other providers are available in the network.
About NextBlue of North Dakota
Headquartered in Fargo, NextBlue of North Dakota Insurance Company (www.NextBlueND.com) is the only North Dakota-based Medicare Advantage health insurance company. The company began operating in 2019 and is an affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND). BCBSND was founded in 1940 with the mission to provide members with affordable access to health care across the state.
NextBlue of North Dakota is a PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in NextBlue of North Dakota depends on contract renewal.
About CHI Health
CHI Health is a regional health network with a unified mission: nurturing the healing ministry of the Church while creating healthier communities. Headquartered in Omaha, the Midwest Division consists of 28 hospitals, two stand-alone behavioral health facilities, 200 clinics and 12,588 employees. CHI Health’s Midwest Division operates in four-states, serving Nebraska, southwest Iowa, North Dakota and Minnesota.
In fiscal year 2022, CHI Health provided $265.3 million in community benefit, including $203.1 million in unreimbursed care for the underinsured and uninsured, helping 426,000 patients.
CHI Health is part of CommonSpirit Health, a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. It was created in February 2019 through the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health. CommonSpirit Health is committed to creating healthy communities, delivering exceptional patient care, and ensuring every person has access to quality health care. With its national office in Chicago and a team of approximately 150,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians, CommonSpirit Health operates 142 hospitals and an additional 2,058 care sites across 21 states. In FY 2022, CommonSpirit Health provided $3.16 billion in community benefit.
