WV Medicaid managed care procurement renewal completed; Aetna, The Health Plan, and UniCare issued contracts
Charleston, W.Va.: Three managed care organizations (MCOs) were awarded contracts to manage West Virginia’s Medicaid Program for the next three years. Aetna Better Health of West Virginia, The Health Plan, and UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia were selected after a comprehensive and competitive bidding process administered by the West Virginia State Purchasing Division. All three MCOs are members of the West Virginia Association of Health Plans (WVAHP). The awards were officially made last week.
“We’d like to congratulate Aetna, The Health Plan, and UniCare on being selected to provide managed care services for West Virginia’s Medicaid Program,” said Ben Beakes, executive director of WVAHP. “Each of these MCOs has demonstrated a strong record of managing quality care and efficient services to West Virginia Medicaid members.”
During the bid process, MCOs had to demonstrate ability to meet rigorous measures including financial health, access to an adequate network of medical providers, operational efficiencies relating to coordinating the needs of Medicaid members, and controls for quality care delivery. The request for proposals was issued in December 2019.
As of June 1, 2020, there were 399,498 Medicaid members enrolled in managed care: 42% of those enrolled are 19 years old or younger, 32% are between 20-39 years old, and 26% are 40 years old or older.
“The MCOs who were awarded contracts employ hundreds of West Virginians who care about the health and wellbeing of their neighbors. Our nurse care managers coordinate the care Medicaid members need,” said Beakes. To view stories of WVAHP-member care managers please visit the homepage of WVAHP at ahpwv.com and scroll down to iCare 2019 stories.
The new contract year begins on July 1, 2020.