Kaiser Permanente is the largest managed care organization in the United States. It is made up of three distinct but interdependent groups of entities: the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (KFHP) and its regional operating subsidiaries; Kaiser Foundation Hospitals; and the regional Permanente Medical Groups.
As of 2017, Kaiser Permanente operates in eight states (Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia) and the District of Columbia.
Why Kaiser Permanente?
Kaiser Permanente is a managed care oganization, in which patients agree to visit only certain doctors and hospitals, and in which the cost of treatment is monitored by a managing company.
Each entity of Kaiser Permanente has its own management and governance structure, although all of the structures are interdependent and cooperative to a great extent.
Kaiser Permanente’s insurance plans are more than just insurance plans. They are an entry into the Kaiser Permanente network. You can get more personalized care from top-notch doctors and specialists without being sent to their various offices and re-doing all the paperwork at each location. The coordinated care teams work with you so Doctors and specialists can talk to each other, which speeds up care and keeps everyone on the same page. It’s easier to lay back and worry about getting better when an entire team has your back.
Total health takes teamwork.
Kaiser Permanente also offers digital tools that help manage your health.
All this under one roof.
Kaiser Permanente’s performance has been attributed to three practices:
1) Kaiser Permanente puts a strong emphasis on preventive care, which reduces costs later on.
Doctors are paid a salary rather than paid per service.
2)This removes the incentive for Doctors to order or perform unnecessary procedures. It also lets them take the time to really get involved with their patient’s needs. This results in more focused care, reducing secondary health issues and lowering overall cost.
3) Kaiser Permanente tries to minimize the time patients spend in hospitals by carefully planning their stay and by shifting care to outpatient clinics. This practice results in lower costs per member, reduced cost for Kaiser Permanente, and more Doctor attention to patients.
As of October 2017, Kaiser Permanente had 11.7 million health plan members, 208,975 employees, 21,275 physicians, 54,072 nurses, 39 medical centers, and 720 medical facilities.
As of December 31, 2016, the non-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals entities reported a combined $3.1 billion in net income on $64.6 billion in operating revenues.
Locations:
As of 2017, Kaiser Permanente operates in eight states: Southern California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Oregon/Washington, the Mid-Atlantic States, and the District of Columbia. Care centers are easy to locate on the Kaiser Permanente website.
Plans:
Choose the type of plan that’s right for you, your family, or your employees. You can compare the different plans offered by Kaiser Permanente.
If you would like to be seen by a specific Doctor, or check if a specific Doctor is part of the Kaiser Permanente network, you can find a Doctor on the Kaiser Permanente’s website.
Research and publishing:
Kaiser Permanente also operates a Division of Research, which annually conducts between 200 and 300 studies, and the Center for Health Research which in 2009 had more than 300 active studies. The studies are primarily funded by federal, state, and other outside (non-Kaiser) institutions. Many of the studies reflect the bias that Kaiser Permanente has for preventive medicine. Vaccine and genetic studies are prominent.
Health isn’t an industry. It’s a cause.
Kaiser Permanente was founded on the radically simple idea that everyone deserves the chance to live a healthy life. That’s why you can find high-quality care and coverage in one place.
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