Select Health to Serve South Carolina’s Dual Eligibles Through CMS Financial Alignment Demonstration
North Charleston, S.C. (PRWEB) January 12, 2015 -- AmeriHealth Caritas, a national leader in health care solutions for those most in need, announced that its South Carolina affiliate, Select Health of South Carolina, has been chosen to serve dual eligibles under the state’s Healthy Connections Prime financial alignment demonstration. First Choice VIP Care Plus, Select Health’s Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP), is currently enrolling members, with coverage to begin on February 1, 2015.
Healthy Connections Prime, part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) Financial Alignment Initiative, is intended to improve care coordination for dual eligibles, or people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Select Health was one of four payers selected by South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) and approved by CMS to participate as a Coordinated and Integrated Care Organization in the demonstration, which is expected to serve approximately 53,600 non-institutionalized dual eligibles age 65 and older.
First Choice VIP Care Plus will be administered by AmeriHealth Caritas’ Medicare division, AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Plans.
MMPs include both Medicare and Medicaid managed care benefits and services under one plan, fully integrating the two programs to deliver the most effective health care to dual eligibles. Select Health also offers the First Choice Medicaid health plan to South Carolina residents.
There are approximately nine million dual eligibles nationwide. On average, more than $38,000 is spent each year per person on health care for dual eligibles.
“For 20 years, Select Health has been helping South Carolinians get care, stay well and build healthy communities. Our First Choice plan is the oldest and largest Medicaid plan in South Carolina, and this experience makes us particularly well suited to care for the state’s dual eligibles,” said Cindy Helling, market president of Select Health. “We look forward to working with SCDHHS and CMS on this innovative approach to aligning the Medicaid and Medicare programs.”
“As a national leader in caring for those most in need, we are committed to working with governments and other businesses to find innovative ways to fulfill this mission,” said John Baackes, president Medicare VIP Plans for AmeriHealth Caritas. “It is a pleasure to collaborate with the state of South Carolina in this endeavor to improve the quality and efficiency of health care for South Carolina’s dual eligible population.”
About AmeriHealth Caritas
AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. AmeriHealth Caritas operates in 16 states and the District of Columbia, and serves more than 6.6 million Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management services, behavioral health services and other administrative services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with 30 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit http://www.amerihealthcaritas.com.
Joshua Brett, AmeriHealth Caritas, http://www.amerihealthcaritas.com, +1 (215) 863-5458, [email protected]
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