Kaleida Health and Univera Healthcare have successfully completed contract negotiations and signed a new agreement for the provision of health care services to Univera members in Western New York.

According to a release distributed by the HMO, "The new agreement assures Univera's 200,000 members in Western New York, including the 35,000 enrolled in Univera SeniorChoice, continued access to the facilities, services, resources and talented physicians and staff who make up Kaleida Health."

"While we have made significant progress in securing more appropriate reimbursement rates for services provided at Kaleida Health, we have also crafted an agreement that clearly defines the roles, responsibilities and rules for both parties in the administration of the contract," said Carrie Frank, executive vice president, Kaleida operations. "This clarification will enable Kaleida Health and Univera Healthcare staff to work in a more cooperative manner."

Arthur R. Goshin, M.D., president and CEO of Univera Healthcare, said, "Both sides have worked very hard to solidify the partnership between our two organizations, whose shared goals are to offer the highest quality care and latest technology, to provide the best value for every health care dollar spent, and to keep the best doctors practicing here in our community."

Univera Healthcare is a not-for-profit health maintenance organization. Its parent company is Excellus Health Plan, Inc., a Rochester-based not-for-profit holding company that also operates health plans in Rochester, Central New York, and the Utica-Watertown areas.