State releases report card on Medicaid managed care plans

Medicaid officials released the state’s second annual report card of managed-care plans this week (Source: “State's managed healthcare plans score average or better on report card,” Columbus Dispatch, Aug. 18, 2016).

The state hopes the tool will help beneficiaries choose coverage that best fits their family’s needs.  About 80 percent of the 3 million Ohioans enrolled in Medicaid are in managed care and served by one of the five plans. Half of those in managed care pick their healthcare plan and half are auto-enrolled.

The managed-care report card was based on data provided by the plans and patient surveys.

The plans received one, two or three stars in each of five categories: access to care; doctors’ communication and service; keeping kids healthy; helping those living with chronic illness; and women’s care. The plans are rated based on comparisons with one another so all cannot receive the highest score nor the lowest one.

CareSource received the highest marks, earning 13 of a possible 15 stars, and up from 11 stars last year. Buckeye Health Plan got the lowest score, eight, unchanged from last year. Molina Healthcare received 12 stars and Paramount Advantage and United Healthcare each got 10.