Wps Health Insurance history

In January 1947, WPS had 1,042 insured persons enrolled.

In 1948, the American Medical Association (AMA) awarded WPS the AMA Seal of Acceptance.

In 1952, WPS installed computer equipment for the first time to perform claims and statistical functions.

In 1956, the Department of Defense named WPS as the Wisconsin contractor for "Military Medicare," which later became known as CHAMPUS, (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services), and which is now known as TRICARE.

WPS had already been caring for seniors for five years when the Medicare bill passed in 1965.

After careful study and planning, Wisconsin Physicians Service created a new plan—the Health Maintenance Program—in 1970.

In November 1973, WPS moved operations to a newly constructed corporate headquarters facility at 1717 West Broadway in Monona, bordering Madison's south side.

Then, in 1976, WPS began service relationships with Professional Standards Review Organizations, or PSROs, which used statistical analysis of hospital discharge data to set guidelines on appropriate care for hospital patients with specified medical conditions.

In November 1978, WPS increased computer capacity by 50% to 3 MB of memory with a new IBM 3031 CPU. The following year, another 3 MB of memory were added.

In October 1979, WPS developed and implemented a paperless claims processing system for the Medicare program.

In 1982, WPS constructed a new corporate headquarters—the Ray Koenig Building (pictured at right)—at its Monona location.

The EPIC Life Insurance Company, which was developed in 1984 to sell and administer life and disability insurance in select states across the nation.

By 1985, the interests of WPS and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association had diverged considerably, and WPS terminated its affiliation with the Association.

Founded in 1986, the company offers health insurance to select members in south central Wisconsin.

The structure was completed and dedicated by a formal open house in September 1989.

Formed in 1994, Quartz Health Benefits Plans Corporation (formerly known as Unity) is an affiliate of UW Health, Gundersen Health System® and UnityPoint Health–Meriter.

In June 1995, WPS partnered with ProVantage, a Milwaukee-area pharmacy benefits manager, to provide more competitive services.

Early in 1997, WPS changed course, using the InsurTec name to exclusively service the needs of self funded clients.

In 1999, WPS was named Business of the Year by both the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Marion (Ill.) Chamber of Commerce.

In 2001, Medco Health purchased ProVantage and became the official pharmacy partner of WPS.

Unity has also consistently maintained an Excellent Accreditation status through NCQA since 2002.

In 2006, WPS also acquired Mutual of Omaha's government claims business.

WPS ended the decade well positioned to take on the 2010s.

In 2012, WPS got a new President and CEO: Mike Hamerlik.

In October 2014, work began on the Patient-Centered Community Care (PC3)/Choice contract for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In 2016, WPS announced a new initiative with Aspirus, Inc. and created a new holding company, Arise Health Ventures.

A big contract win happened in 2018 when work began on the TRICARE East Region (in blue on map) contract, which meant WPS was processing claims for about 60% of the country's active-duty military and their families.

To avoid any potential conflict of interest with federal contracts, however, WPS sold its stake in Arise Health Ventures to Aspirus in 2019.