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<p>Geisinger Health System and Highmark Inc. have teamed up to create a new network to provide affordable, high-quality care in north central Pennsylvania.</p><p>The joint venture announced Wednesday could be expanded to other areas in the future, officials said.</p><p>The participants disclosed few details during a conference call with reporters, explaining they have signed a letter of intent and will focus on Clinton, Lycoming, Sullivan and Tioga counties. A new facility will be built in Montoursville, Lycoming County, at a yet to be determined site.</p><p>Lynn Miller, Geisinger executive vice president and chief administrative officer, Clinical Enterprise, said this is something new for the participants who have a working relationship. Geisinger accepts Highmark&#8217;s insurance products.</p><p>What makes this different for Geisinger is that it&#8217;s the first joint venture with a payer such as Highmark, Miller said.</p><p>Driving the partnership is the goal of providing affordable care to promote good outcomes, she said. &#8220;We need to take some of the cost out of healthcare and deliver better value,&#8221; Miller said.</p><p>The targeted market is already served by both Geisinger and Highmark and the network would accept outside customers.</p><p>&#8220;Our belief is, if we can create something that is of value to the community we should allow participation,&#8221; said Deborah Rice-Johnson, president of Highmark Health Plan.</p><p>Geisinger, based in Danville, is an integrated health system with a 551,000-member health plan 12 hospital campuses, including two locally, Geisinger Wyoming Valley in Plains Township and Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. It also operates the Geisinger Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton.</p><p>Highmark, which took over Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania in 2015, and its affiliates operate health insurance plans for more than 5 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Geisinger, Highmark form joint venture for healthcare network in north central PA