Dive Brief:
- Health insurance industry disruptor Oscar plans to launch a health center in New York to provide members with access to in-house primary care,
- The news broke following Oscar's online job post seeking a medical director and primary care physician for a new practice, with a position start date in September.
- The move is part of Oscar's strategy to get a handle on costs after losing $105 million on its ACA plans in 2015, Bloomberg reported.
Dive Insight:
Oscar had already taken a noted turn toward narrow networks after beginning with a broad network when it originally launched in New York. Its expansions into Los Angeles, Dallas and San Antonio have featured the pared down networks, and providing its own care could reduce costs even further, Bloomberg wrote.
Oscar's ad states The Oscar Health Center will exclusively serve Oscar members and provide comprehensive primary care ranging from preventive care, to chronic care management and same-day sick visits. Though it doesn't provide a location for the health center, it says a New York medical license will be required.
"We are looking for a lead physician who will provide primary care within the practice and play a critical leadership role designing and launching the new practice," the website says.