UnityPoint Health enters affiliate agreement with Wisconsin health service

West Des Moines-based UnityPoint Health is expanding into Wisconsin.

The company will combine operations through an affiliate agreement with Meriter Health Services of Madison, Wis. Meriter will become an affiliate of UnityPoint Health.

The next step is preparing the necessary filings with the appropriate regulatory agencies.

UnityPoint Health said that its affiliation with Meriter will allow the organizations to improve care coordination, expand access to care, share best practices on care processes to improve quality and efficiency, and optimize the use of resources.

UnityPoint Health will provide resources to Meriter to support and enhance services.

Meriter Health Services is a health system comprised of Meriter Medical Group, Meriter Hospital, and Physicians Plus Insurance Corp.

UnityPoint Health provides care throughout Iowa and in central and western Illinois through 280 physician clinics, 30 hospitals and home care services.