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Health Partners adds Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania to network

Effective July 1, the provider agreement makes all Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania facilities and physicians in-network.

Health Partners Plans has announced it has signed a contract with Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for in-network care.

Effective July 1, the provider agreement makes all Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania facilities and physicians in-network.

Pennsylvania-based Health Partners Plans members will have access to any Children's Hospitals of Pennsylvania as part of the new agreement.

It allows HPP's members on Health Partners Medicaid or KidzPartners, its plan for children, and those who qualify to enroll in HPP's Medicare products to visit any of CHOP's primary care, specialty care, urgent care and community hospital locations.

WHY IT MATTERS

The agreement expands HPP's network and options for Pennsylvania children, whether for COVID-19 care or other care.

Health Partners Plans is a not-for-profit managed healthcare organization serving more than 259,000 members in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It is known for addressing social barriers to health through programs, including its Community Wellness Center in West Philadelphia and its social determinants of health initiatives.

THE LARGER TREND

In April, the CDC released a report about COVID-19 in children. In the U.S., about 1.7% of COVID-19 cases had occurred in children. Of those, 5.7% were hospitalized, compared with 10% of adults at that time.

In May, a group pediatricians released steps to be taken to ensure children get the care they need related to COVID-19. They ranged from understanding how the disease develops in children to ensuring the availability of testing to expanding research.

Between January 22 and May 30, the CDC reported more than 69,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients under 19 years old.

ON THE RECORD

"CHOP is committed to providing all children safe and high-quality care," said Madeline Bell, the president and CEO of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "At a time when even more children will count on Medicaid and CHIP for coverage, maintaining federal and state support for both programs is critical.

Twitter: @HackettMallory
Email the writer: mhackett@himss.org