Consumers Life Expands Healthcare Network in Northea...( '09 expansion means better access ...),Health

'09 expansion means better access, more choices for Indiana healthcare

consumers

FORT WAYNE, Ind., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Lutheran Health Network (LHN) announces it has reached agreement to partner with Consumers Life Insurance Company forming a new network to provide healthcare service to consumers in 12 Indiana counties including the Fort Wayne area.

Included in the new network partnership is Fort Wayne's Lutheran Hospital, the region's only heart-transplant facility. Lutheran's facility also has a strong commitment to pediatrics with Lutheran Children's Hospital. In addition, Lutheran is also known for its high quality emergency services. Fort Wayne's Dupont and St. Joseph hospitals are also included in the expansion.

Other LHN medical and healthcare facilities, which are also part of the network, are located in Miami, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko and Wells counties.

Consumers Life Vice President Lincoln Lafayette said the partnership will take effect January 1, 2009 and is significant for Indiana healthcare consumers in many ways. "This partnership with the Lutheran Health family is bringing additional healthcare competition to Indiana. Our partnership with Lutheran will also provide more choices and better access to quality healthcare."

Paul Moss, vice president of LHN, agreed. "We are very happy to have Consumers Life in our network family. Throughout the Lutheran Health Network, we're widely known for our dedication to providing citizens with outstanding medical care," said Moss, "We're committed to the economic health and wellness of the communities we serve and having more healthcare choices is a healthy situation." Moss added, "Our hospitals and urgent care clinics are all over Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas. So, no matter where you live, you're never far from advanced healthcare."

LHN members include Bluffton Regional Medical Center, Dukes Memorial Hospital, D
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