Out-of-state company could do most of states Medicaid managed care

[TexasTowelie]

MONTGOMERY — A St. Louis-based company could end up managing the health care of most Medicaid patients in Alabama.

The Centene Corp. is proposing a regional care organization in each of the state’s five districts. Currently, it would be the only regional care organization in three of them.

In north Alabama, Centene is one of three proposed regional care organizations that may vie for Medicaid patients.

According to the latest information from Gov. Robert Bentley about the state’s plan to transform Medicaid, there would be a total of eight regional care organizations run by three groups. This is less than originally expected.

Read more: http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/other_news/state_capital/out-of-state-company-could-do-most-of-state-s/article_23325eba-15c4-5c8f-a807-13ae51141bdf.html

[Hoyt]

1. Centene "manages" significant Medicaid populations in a number of states like Georgia

and many others. They are even getting a contract for portions of California. They also manage beneficiaries who have Medicare Advantage and Medicaid. There are similar companies doing the same. I know we are supposed to hate any privatization around here, and for good reason, but I actually think some of these plans do a better job than throwing Medicaid patients to the mercy of a bunch of independently practicing physicians who often fail to coordinate care. Heck, many physicians won't even take Medicaid unless the choice is being on-call and having to treat a acute condition or accident victim where they aren't likely to get paid anything absent Medicaid.

[msongs]

2. yeah let em steal the medicaid money and if any left over spend it on healthcare for people. that is

what privatization is all about. steal the money and spend a few crumbs on the poor unfortunate rubes