KVH Urges All Region 3 MCOs to Make Patient Access to Quality Care the No 1 Priority

Oct 5th, 2012

In the wake of yesterday’s announcement regarding the Region 3 Medicaid contracted providers, Kentucky Voices for Health (KVH) is urging the four selected MCOs to make patient access to quality care their primary focus.

Given the issues that have plagued Medicaid managed care outside of Region 3—lack of claims payments, preauthorization requirements delaying services and treatment, and inadequacy of network providers—we are cautious about the expansion of managed care beyond the current Passport plan to two existing for-profit managed care organizations and a new player, Humana.

First and foremost, KVH is concerned about the continuity of care for Medicaid members. The transition is likely to cause disruption for most members who have been served by Passport. Auto-assignment of patients takes away patient choice initially. It also creates an undue burden on members who will have to take action to ensure they are on the plan that best meets their needs and, most importantly, the plan that includes their trusted providers.

KVH is also concerned about quality improvement and outcomes over time. With members being sought after by new health plans and with, perhaps, the constant movement of members between plans, there is danger of lack of consistent care. This may produce challenges to achieving coordination of care, continuous quality improvement over time and overall improvement of Kentucky’s poor health rankings.

KVH will be monitoring these developments closely and will continue to serve as a resource, providing assistance to members and their families and in communicating with policy-makers member issues and concerns. We have a web form, phone hotline, and legal aid assistance available to help Medicaid members with problems they face as the state continues to implement managed care in the Medicaid program.

KVH Urges All Region 3 MCOs to Make Patient Access to Quality Care the No 1 Priority

Coalition Partners