South Country Health Alliance

What South Country Health Alliance does

South Country Health Alliance (SCHA) is a Minnesota county-based purchasing (CBP) health plan formed in 2001 and governed through a Joint Powers Agreement among seven counties (Brown, Dodge, Goodhue, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, and Waseca). It administers publicly funded healthcare coverage for Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees, serving over 25,000 members across its seven-county footprint. Its member base skews toward complex, high-cost populations: low-income families and children (PMAP), seniors, and adults with disabilities, including dual-eligibles who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The organization operates a portfolio of seven coordinated programs: five Medical Assistance/Medicaid lines (PMAP Families and Children, MinnesotaCare, MSC+, SingleCare SNBC, SharedCare SNBC) and two Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SeniorCare Complete and AbilityCare). These are wrapped with member services and wellness programs — RideConnect non-emergency transportation, Community Care Connectors, a 24/7 nurse advice line, telehealth, behavioral health, and incentive programs such as Take Charge!, tobacco cessation, a car seat program, and the Delfina maternal health program. Technology is limited to standard health-plan administration infrastructure (member/provider portals and provider, pharmacy, and drug search tools); there is no proprietary platform, public API, or mobile app.

SCHA's business model is that of a managed-care organization funded by capitated payments from federal (CMS/Medicare) and state (Minnesota DHS/Medicaid) programs rather than commercial premiums. Revenue is not consumer-priced or publicly disclosed; the plan receives per-member payments to bear healthcare risk for enrollees. Go-to-market is community-led and non-commercial: members are enrolled through Minnesota DHS and county public health/social service departments, and care is delivered through a contracted provider network. As a public cooperative entity owned by its member counties, it is neither venture-backed nor profit-distributing, and it is directed by a Joint Powers Board of seven elected county commissioners.

Name

South Country Health Alliance

Legal name

South Country Health Alliance

Website

https://mnscha.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

A Minnesota county-based purchasing health plan, formed in 2001 and owned by seven counties, that administers Medicaid and Medicare Advantage programs for over 25,000 low-income families, seniors, and adults with disabilities through capitated government contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Managed Care Health Insurance

NAICS

Health Care and Social Assistance (62), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Equity, Community Health & Social Determinants Policy (HLAJAMAG), Community Health & Health Equity/Social Determinants Units (HLAJAAAO), Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• Medicaid managed care
• Medicare Advantage plans
• County-based health plans
• Health insurance programs
• Government health coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Owatonna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Healthcare Program Premiums: South Country Health Alliance generates revenue through government healthcare programs including Medicare Part D (prescription drug benefit), Medicare Part A (hospital coverage), Medicare Part B (medical services), and Medical Assistance (Minnesota's Medicaid program). The organization is a county-based purchasing health plan that receives capitated payments from federal and state governments to provide healthcare coverage to enrollees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

South Country Health Alliance is a county-based purchasing health plan that administers government-funded healthcare programs to Minnesota Health Care Program enrollees across 7 counties. It operates two Medicare Advantage plans (SeniorCare Complete and AbilityCare) and five Medical Assistance/Medicaid programs (Families and Children PMAP, Minnesota Senior Care Plus, MinnesotaCare, SingleCare, and SharedCare), supplemented by member support services such as transportation, nurse advice, behavioral health, telehealth, and wellness programs.

Product overview

South Country Health Alliance is a county-based purchasing health plan offering a portfolio of 7 coordinated health programs serving 7 Minnesota counties (Brown, Dodge, Goodhue, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, and Waseca). The organization operates two Medicare Advantage programs (SeniorCare Complete and AbilityCare) and five Medical Assistance/Medicaid programs (Families and Children PMAP, Minnesota Senior Care Plus MSC+, MinnesotaCare, SingleCare, and SharedCare). These programs are complemented by member support services including RideConnect transportation, Community Care Connectors, 24/7 Nurse Advice, Telehealth, Behavioral Health, and wellness programs (Delfina maternal health, Take Charge! incentives, Car Seat Program, and tobacco cessation). Provider-facing tools include a portal for claims and authorizations, plus search tools for members to find providers, pharmacies, and covered drugs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SeniorCare Complete: Medicare Advantage program for seniors providing comprehensive health coverage including Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage.
• AbilityCare
• PMAP (Families and Children)
• MinnesotaCare
• Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+)
• SingleCare (Non-Integrated SNBC)
• SharedCare (Non-Integrated SNBC)
• Take Charge!
• RideConnect
• Community Care Connectors
• South Country Cares

Products and services

• SeniorCare Complete Medicare Advantage plan for seniors combining Medicare Part A, Part B, and Part D coverage with additional benefits, designed for members dually eligible for Medicare and Medical Assistance.
• AbilityCare Medicare Advantage special needs plan for adults with disabilities, offering tailored care coordination and integrated Medicare and Medical Assistance benefits.
• Families and Children (PMAP) Public Medical Assistance program providing health coverage through Minnesota's Medicaid program for eligible families and children, including preventive care, doctor visits, and hospitalizations.
• Minnesota Senior Care Plus (MSC+) Managed care program for seniors age 65 and over that combines Medicare and Medical Assistance benefits into a single integrated plan.
• MinnesotaCare Subsidized health insurance program for Minnesota residents with limited income who do not qualify for Medical Assistance or other programs.
• SingleCare (Non-Integrated SNBC) Special Needs BasicCare (SNBC) program for adults with disabilities age 18-64 who are not enrolled in Medicare, providing Medical Assistance coverage with care coordination.
• SharedCare (Non-Integrated SNBC) Special Needs BasicCare (SNBC) program with care coordination for individuals with disabilities age 18-64 who are enrolled in Medicare, integrating Medicare and Medical Assistance benefits.
• RideConnect Non-emergency medical transportation service helping South Country members travel to medical appointments and healthcare services.
• Community Care Connectors County-based community health worker program that partners with county public health and social services departments to connect members with local services, resources, and healthcare coordination.
• 24/7 Nurse Advice Line Round-the-clock nurse consultation service available to South Country members for health questions, symptom guidance, and care navigation.
• Telehealth Services Virtual healthcare visits delivered via video, phone, and audio-only platforms, enabling South Country members to consult with healthcare providers remotely.
• Behavioral Health Services Mental health and substance use disorder services including therapy, counseling, and crisis intervention for South Country members.
• Delfina Care Program Personalized pregnancy support program offering education, risk identification, and care coordination for expectant mothers, delivered in partnership with Delfina.
• Take Charge! Wellness Programs Incentive-based wellness program offering rewards to South Country members for completing preventive care services and health screenings.
• EX Program (Tobacco Cessation) Smoking cessation program helping South Country members quit tobacco use with counseling, resources, and support tools.
• Car Seat Program Wellness program that provides free car seats to qualifying South Country members along with child safety training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 25,000 members served across 7 Minnesota counties

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MedScopecoreTechnology or Integration · 23 February 2024South Country Health Alliance partnered with MedScope to provide medical alert/personal emergency response services to members. MedScope is a Medical Alert Company offering personal emergency response systems.
• DelfinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 February 2024South Country Health Alliance partnered with Delfina to expand access to critical maternal health services. Delfina provides maternal health technology and care coordination services to improve prenatal and postpartum outcomes for members.
• Hy-VeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Country Health Alliance partnered with Hy-Vee to offer virtual store tours and dietitian services to members. Hy-Vee dietitian services provide nutrition counseling and education for members through the Hy-Vee Healthy You program.
• Apple Tree DentalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Country Health Alliance works with Apple Tree Dental to provide dental services. Apple Tree Dental opened the Little Falls Center for Dental Health to serve members in the region.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PrimeWest Health: County-based purchasing health plan serving 13 Minnesota counties under a Joint Powers Board structure, offering Medicaid and Medicare Advantage products. Operates the same CBP model as South Country in adjacent rural Minnesota counties, making it the closest structural peer.
• Hennepin Health: Minnesota county-based health plan operated by Hennepin County, providing Medicaid and MinnesotaCare coverage to Hennepin County residents. Shares the CBP structure and member populations but serves a much larger urban/suburban county.
• Itasca Medical Care (IMCare): County-based health plan serving Itasca County, Minnesota, offering Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare. Same CBP framework and rural-county focus as South Country Health Alliance.

Broad incumbents

• UCare: Minnesota-based independent nonprofit health plan serving Medicaid, Medicare, and individual market members statewide. Competes head-to-head with South Country on Medicaid contracts but operates at significantly greater scale across more programs and geographies.
• Medica: Major Minnesota-based nonprofit health plan offering Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, and commercial products. Overlaps with South Country on Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products and competes for state contracts in overlapping service areas.
• HealthPartners: Integrated health system and health plan operating Medicaid (HealthPartners Care) and Medicare Advantage products in Minnesota. Comparable on product mix and serves some of the same rural counties as South Country.
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota: Largest nonprofit health plan in Minnesota offering Medicare Advantage, Medicaid (through some state contracts), and commercial products. Dominant statewide player competing with South Country for provider network contracts and members in overlapping service areas.

Regional players

• Metropolitan Health Plan: County-based Minnesota health plan historically associated with the Twin Cities metro region offering Medical Assistance products. Structurally similar to South Country but focused on urban populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mnscha.org
• Instagraminstagram.com/southcountryhealthalliance

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Country Health Alliance