Georgia may expand managed care for Medicaid beneficiaries with more for-profit health insurers as the state braces for a Medicaid deficit of $600 million within the next three years, according to a report from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
"The current Medicaid program design cannot be sustained," said David Cook, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health, in the report. "By acting now, we can save this important safety-net program while improving quality care and providing greater value for patients and the public."
Georgia already uses for-profit managed care companies with children and pregnant women who are on Medicaid. In January, the state hired a consultant to evaluate the Medicaid program, which spends $21 million per day, and the consultant's report suggested Georgia move to more private insurers to manage the program.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and the DCH plan to analyze the options over the coming weeks, but no legislative approval is needed to expand the managed care format, according to the report.
"The current Medicaid program design cannot be sustained," said David Cook, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Health, in the report. "By acting now, we can save this important safety-net program while improving quality care and providing greater value for patients and the public."
Georgia already uses for-profit managed care companies with children and pregnant women who are on Medicaid. In January, the state hired a consultant to evaluate the Medicaid program, which spends $21 million per day, and the consultant's report suggested Georgia move to more private insurers to manage the program.
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and the DCH plan to analyze the options over the coming weeks, but no legislative approval is needed to expand the managed care format, according to the report.
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