Deadline for Ohio Medicaid managed care bids is today

Bids are due today for insurance companies that want to be a part of Ohio Medicaid’s overhaul  (Source: “Insurance company bids due today for Ohio Medicaid overhaul,” Dayton Daily News, Nov. 20).

The state is overhauling how the health insurance program for people who are disabled or have low incomes operates and picking new insurance companies as contractors to manage those insurance claims. By rebidding the contracts, the state can update the conditions for getting and spending Medicaid dollars and can re-select which insurers it trusts to meet its goals.

In 2019, Ohio paid about $17 billion to Medicaid HMOs and about 90% of the 3 million Ohioans who are covered by Medicaid get an insurance plan managed by an insurance company. These insurers get a payment per member per month and use that money to pay for their member’s health care.