Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pennsylvania, Maryland Pick Private Companies To Run Select Programs For Medicaid
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Pa. Picks Three Firms To Manage Medicaid Benefits For Elderly And Disabled
Pennsylvania officials on Tuesday named three companies to manage long-term care for 420,000 low-income Pennsylvanians in a massive overhaul of how nursing home stays, home care, and other supports for the elderly and the physically disabled older than 21 are paid for. The winners of statewide Medicaid contracts were AmeriHealth Caritas, a subsidiary of Independence Blue Cross; a unit of Centene Corp; and UPMC for You, which is owned by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Fourteen insurers, including Health Partner's Plans, of Philadelphia, put in bids. (Brubaker, 8/30)
The Baltimore Sun: Maryland Medicaid Patients To Participate In Diabetes Prevention Programs
The state health department has chosen four companies to help implement diabetes prevention programs for Medicaid patients as part of a two-year pilot set up by the federal government. Amerigroup, Jai Medical Systems, MedStar Family Choice and Priority Partners have been chosen by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to oversee the programs. The companies are four of eight managed care organizations that administer Medicaid coverage for low-income people in the state. (McDaniels, 8/31)
The Associated Press: UnitedHealthcare Official Confirms Medicaid Losses In Iowa
A representative for one of the insurance companies overseeing Iowa's newly privatized Medicaid program said Monday the company has lost money during the system's implementation, but declined to say exactly how much. Kim Foltz, CEO for UnitedHealthcare's Iowa operations, cited information in a new quarterly report in telling a legislative oversight committee at the Iowa Capitol that the company has lost money. The confirmation means all three insurance companies that run Iowa's health care program for more than 500,000 poor and disabled residents have lost money in the initial months of implementation. (8/30)
