b'Strategic PartnershipsCone Health and Novant Health Finalize Joint Ownership of HealthTeam AdvantageOn September 28, 2022, Cone Health and Novant Health signed an agreement to make Novant an official partner in HealthTeam Advantage (HTA), our Medicare Advantage plan that currently provides coverage for approximately 15,000 Medicare beneficiaries throughout seven North Carolina counties. Cone Health maintains majority ownership of HTA. This new partnership will initially focus on expanding access in Forsyth, Davie and Davidson counties. Providing consumer-focused value-based care and products is one of our strategic priorities. HTA currently has over 13,500 providers in its network. This partnership with Novant Health will add approximately 3,200 providers to HTAs network. This means HTAs beneficiaries have improved access to care and high-quality providers. In May, the two organizations signed a letter of intent to allow Novant Health to buy into the plan. The partnership has been approved by Cone Health and Novant Health boards of trustees. I firmly believe that partnerships are the future of health care, and this agreement with Novant Health clearly shows why, said Dr. Mary Jo Cagle, CEO of Cone Health. We have the expertise of running a successful Medicare Advantage plan and adding Novant Healths providers to the network will allow many more people across the state to take advantage of this option for health care.It is through partnerships like this that Cone Health can remain strong, viable and independent. Growing our network of providers creates more choice and value for our patients. The stronger we are, the more we grow, and the better able we are to provide exceptional care to more patients. HTA is one of only two Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rated 5-star Medicare Advantage programs in North Carolina. It counts 15,000 Medicare beneficiaries in seven North Carolina counties as members. HTA employs 115 people. Economies of scale are important in this business, but this is also about choice, said Brendan Hodges, president and CEO of HTA. This means more access to more high-quality care for more people in more places.23 O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 2 1 t o S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 2 2'