GHP

Group Health Plan (GHP) was founded on March 2, 1978, as Group Health Plan of Greater St. Louis, a non-profit health services corporation. GHP became operational in January of 1982 as a staff model HMO with one medical center serving St. Louis, St. Louis County, and a portion of Jefferson County. In 1985, GHP was licensed as a for-profit corporation and changed its name to Group Health Plan, Inc.

In 1990, GHP added a network of community physicians to its system, becoming a mixed model HMO with the new IPA network operating alongside the staff model already in place. GHP remained a mixed model HMO until 1997, when it sold its nine medical centers to BJC Health System. The sale allowed GHP to focus on what it does best - provide access to quality health care coverage at an affordable price.

During the late 1990's and early 2000's, GHP strengthened its presence within the marketplace by merging with two other health maintenance organizations within the St. Louis area. Today, GHP's service area has grown to include not only the St. Louis/Metro East area, but also Mid-Missouri, and Central and Southern Illinois. GHP's significant growth in recent years has positioned it as one of the top three health plans in the St. Louis market with over 330,000 members.

GHP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coventry Health Care, Inc., one of the top managed care firms in the nation. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Coventry provides health benefits and services to a broad section of employer and government-funded groups in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Coventry's disciplined business principles and commitment to excellence have earned the company a noteworthy reputation. Coventry holds a place on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (the S&P 500) and has been named to the Fortune 500 every year since 2002.

GHP's commitment to members has been recognized with a full health plan accreditation from URAC. GHP contracts with more than 13,800 credentialed, contracted health care providers to serve its members. Employers and union groups now choose from a broad range of GHP's managed care products including: HMO, Point-of-Service, PPO and Medicare options, or they may elect third party payor services through Care Management Resources (CMR), GHP's administrative services division.