суббота, 15 сентября 2012 г.

AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATES AS LATEST HEALTH PLAN TO JOIN MEDICAID REFORM - US Fed News Service, Including US State News

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration issued the following news release:

Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) Secretary Christa Calamas today announced the addition of Pediatric Associates to the list of managed care providers under Florida's Medicaid reform. Since enrollment began July 24, 2006, more than 5,200 Medicaid recipients in Broward and Duval Counties have joined a plan thanks to successful community outreach efforts and certified choice counselors.

'Competition is thriving as additional health plans join Florida's new reformed Medicaid program, generating improved access to care and innovative coverage options for the state's Medicaid recipients,' said Secretary Calamas. 'We are proud of the early success in enrollment, and are pleased to count Pediatric Associates among the health plans now available to beneficiaries in Broward County.'

Broward and Duval are the first counties in Florida to implement Medicaid reform. Together, they are home to 200,000 eligible Medicaid recipients. To ensure individuals receive sufficient information and personal help choosing a plan, AHCA developed a seven-month schedule for current enrollees to gradually move into reform. In July, more than 15,000 households, representing approximately 22,000 Medicaid recipients, received information on plans and how to sign up. Counseling sessions are provided via telephone, in a group setting, and one-on-one. Florida's choice counselors are certified and specially trained to help Medicaid recipients chose a plan best suited to their health care needs.

Under reform, some capitated health plans will offer additional benefits not currently covered by the Medicaid program, such as full adult dental coverage or monthly over-the-counter pharmacy stipends, at no additional charge to the state. To ensure services meet the needs of the Medicaid consumers, AHCA thoroughly evaluates each health plan's benefit packages for actuarial equivalency and individual service sufficiency. Plans may vary the amount of certain services as long as the value of the benefit package remains consistent with the premium paid by the state.

Thirteen plans have contracts to serve beneficiaries in Broward County, including four provider service networks (PSNs) and nine health maintenance organizations (HMOs). The plans are AMERIGROUP, Access Health, Buena Vista, Florida NetPass, First Coast Advantage, HealthEase Health Plans of Florida, Humana, Pediatric Associates, Preferred Medical Plan, South Florida Community Care Network, Total Health Choice, UnitedHealthcare, Vista Healthplan of South Florida, and Staywell Health Plan of Florida.

Duval County has five plans available including two PSNs and three HMOs. Those plans are Access Health, HealthEase Health Plans of Florida, Shands Jax d/b/a First Coast Advantage, UnitedHealthcare, and Staywell Health Plan of Florida.

For more information on Florida Medicaid reform, please visit www.ahca.myflorida.com.Contact: Krista Moody, 850/922-5871.

Krista Moody, 850/922-5871.