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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc., and Ministry Health Care today announced that Security Health Plan will make a $1 million donation to the House of the Dove capital campaign. The donation will support construction of a new hospice house that will be able to provide more advanced levels of end-of-life care and a more pleasant environment than are available now with the current House of the Dove facility.

A new House of the Dove facility will be larger and more comfortable for residents, will be licensed and staffed to handle acute care 24 hours a day so that patients will be less likely to need to be transferred to the hospital, and will offer respite care for families who continue to care for their loved ones at home. The new House of the Dove will continue to provide care on a sliding fee scale for patients, and will not deny care to anyone based on ability to pay.

“Supporting such a vital community project is the right thing to do,” said Steve Youso, chief administrative officer at Security Health Plan. “It allows people to comfortably make end-of-life choices, provides appropriate courses of care, supports the local health care system and helps manage a person’s quality of life and costs at the end of life. Any of us could require such care, and all of us will face end-of-life issues. We hope our support will give the House of the Dove the ability to provide care for our community members for many years to come.”

“The House of the Dove is essential in caring for our neighbors and friends through life’s final passage,” said Saint Joseph’s Hospital CEO, Michael Kryda, M.D. “We are elated that Security Health Plan and Marshfield Clinic are joining with Ministry Health Care and the community to help make this effort to build a new House of the Dove a reality.”

“In this day of advanced medicine, most people die of chronic illness rather than sudden death,” said Russ Kuzel, M.D., chief medical officer at Security Health Plan. “Most people wish to remain at home through their final days but, often, their care needs become too great for them to remain at home. A hospice facility is devoted solely to patients with terminal illness who are expected to live 6 months or less. The House of the Dove is a surrogate home for people whose care needs become too complicated to allow them to remain at home during their final days of life. It is a place where family members can gather and make their loved one’s death a more positive experience. It can be one of the most healing and important times in the lives of families.”

When the current House of the Dove was established more than 20 years ago, it was the first hospice home in Wisconsin. It provides residential care for eight patients at a time. Medicare covers the cost of medical care, but does not pay for the cost of residential hospice services. Ministry Health Care writes off more than 60 percent of the charges for House of the Dove patients who cannot afford to pay.

The House of the Dove has a waiting list each month. The new facility will be able to serve up to 12 patients at a time, with larger patient rooms that include private restrooms, pleasant outdoor views, large public spaces, and space for guests to sleep overnight.

“This donation fits with Security Health Plan’s mission to improve the health, lifestyles and overall well-being of our members and the communities we serve,” Youso said.

Security Health Plan of Wisconsin, Inc. is a physician-sponsored health maintenance organization, owned by Marshfield Clinic, and serves more than 167,000 members in a 32-county service area of Wisconsin. Security Health Plan is the third largest health maintenance organization in Wisconsin and provides insured and self-funded plans to a variety of large and small employers, as well as to individuals and families. Security Health Plan has been named to the U.S. News & World Report/America's Best Health Plans* ranking for four consecutive years and is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

*“America’s Best Health Plans” is a trademark of U.S. News & World Report.