The focus of Carilion Clinic’s Medicare Advantage plan has changed from an inclusive plan that sought to rely solely on Carilion’s own doctors, to one that is working with others in the community.

Carilion ran an advertisement in Sunday’s Roanoke Times confirming the change.

Among the other health systems that Carilion has contracted with is Carilion’s chief competitor, LewisGale Regional Health System, according to the ad. Additionally the plan includes coverage at Jefferson Surgical Clinic.

Under Medicare Advantage, private health plans enter into contracts with the government  to offer coverage to enrolled Medicare patients that includes  benefits beyond traditional Medicare. Since launching its plan, Carilion has struggled to meet its enrollment goals. (In September about 575 people were enrolled in Carilion’s Medicare Advantage plan, well below the initial goal of 3,000.)

The move comes about a month after another insurance company also changed its decision to contract exclusively with Carilion doctors.

Do you think this signals a change in how Carilion wants to operate within the larger medical community?