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Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Partnership Plan in Ohio Awarded Contract to Cover Enrolled Medicaid Population

Posted on: Friday, 17 March 2006, 18:00 CST

CLEVELAND, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Partnership Plan, Inc. (Anthem) today announced that the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services awarded Anthem a contract to provide health care benefits to recipients of the state's Covered Family and Children's (CFC) program, Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) members throughout the Northwest, Northeast and Northeast Central regions. Anthem will become one of six managed care plans offered to provide services in these regions with approximately 460,000 eligible beneficiaries. Anthem expects to enroll 75,000 of these beneficiaries in the first year.

The awarded contract contributes to a statewide expansion of managed care within the state to cover Medicaid and SCHIP beneficiaries and increase access to care. Enrolled beneficiaries will have access to medical home and coordinated care that includes hospital services, physicians, specialists, prescriptions, vision, dental and behavioral health. "We have the ability to improve the lives of our members by providing improved access, best-in-class health management programs, and excellent service to recipients of Ohio's CFC program," said John Monahan, President of State Sponsored Business, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Partnership Plan, Inc., and President, State Sponsored Business, WellPoint, Inc.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has provided quality health plans to Ohioans for over 65 years and continues to have a strong presence as the leading health benefits company in the state with 4,000 employees and the largest network of physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals available to our more than 2.7 million members. "As an Ohio plan who understands the state's health care needs, we look forward to expanding our commitment to public health while expanding our membership in Ohio," adds Chuck Slater President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio, and Senior Vice President, WellPoint, Inc.

Anthem will staff local Community Resource Centers (CRCs) to serve its members and providers in Ohio. These CRCs will provide outreach services, health education referrals, translation, and other specialized services for its Anthem members. Additionally, the CRCs will support providers with medical office staff training, quality management activities, assistance with eligibility or claims questions, and general service to facilitate providers' ability to give quality care to members.

The state offered contracts to health plans that offered extensive experience in providing all Medicaid-covered services to this population with the flexibility to meet Ohio-specific program requirements and sufficient administrative and information systems. In addition, the capacity to successfully manage a high volume of members enrolled in an expedited timeframe, and demonstrated high levels of clinical performance.

The contract is effective July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2009. Enrollment is estimated to start May 1, 2006, and will be rolled out by region and completed by December 31, 2006. The regional roll-out dates will be determined by the state at a later time.

Anthem is part of the nation's largest Medicaid managed care organization serving more than 2 million members in seven states who are enrolled in Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Programs, and other publicly funded health care programs for low income and/or high medical risk individuals. Our members receive access to quality care from their choice of more than 50,000 providers and enjoy access to NCQA accredited, nationally recognized health management programs that include health risk assessments, prenatal care program, asthma and diabetes management programs, emergency room diversion programs, a 24-hour nurse information hotline, and our "Get Up and Get Moving" program addressing childhood obesity. To address the cultural needs of our members, we translate member materials in up to 11 languages and offer interpreter services in 150 languages.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is a subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. . WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan counties and as Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Partnership Plan, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com/ .

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Ohio

CONTACT: Northern Ohio: Chip Palazzo, +1-216-643-0101,Chip.Palazzo@Anthem.com , or Central and Southern Ohio: Kim Ashley,+1-513-682-8863, Kim.Ashley@Anthem.com , both of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shieldin Ohio

Web site: http://www.wellpoint.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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