BLOOMINGTON - People with insurance through Health Alliance Medical Plans may continue to see Carle Clinic-Bloomington/Normal physicians even if OSF Healthcare System acquires the clinic, Health Alliance said.

"Any agreement between Carle Clinic and OSF will include terms that ensure continued access to the Carle Clinic physicians for Health Alliance groups," Health Alliance CEO Jeff Ingrum said in a prepared statement. "It is possible that an agreement could even enhance our provider network in that (McLean County) area."

Sue Necessary, spokeswoman for OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, said on Wednesday that OSF agreed with the Health Alliance statement. But she declined to comment on whether OSF physicians would become part of the Health Alliance network, citing the confidentiality agreement that OSF and Carle signed while affiliation negotiations are ongoing.

Carle and OSF said a week ago that they had signed a letter of intent to explore the feasibility of Carle Clinic, 1701 E. College Ave., Bloomington, becoming a part of the OSF Healthcare System. Both organizations said Carle patients may continue their current relationships with their physicians and other health care providers at the clinic and discussions allow for retention of staff, facilities and services.

The transaction may be finalized during the next several months, Necessary said.

About 38,000 patients have been to Carle within the past year, but that's a fraction of the clinic's number of active patients, said Dr. Les Mathers, the clinic's chief medical officer.

Carle Clinic Association is the parent company of Health Alliance, the insurer with 310,000 members in Illinois and Iowa, including 132,948 in Central Illinois and 28,334 in McLean County, said Jocelyn Browning, Health Alliance communications manager.

Carle CEO and President Dr. R. Bruce Wellman said Health Alliance members should notice little, if any, changes in service received from Carle physicians. Wellman said physicians should maintain their current hospital admitting practices, meaning continued access to BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.

OSF's decision earlier this year to sell OSF HealthPlans to Humana prompted Wellman to say that Carle is not talking with anyone about a potential sale of Health Alliance.