Aetna is changing up its Kansas leadership after the state threatened to terminate the insurer's Medicaid contract for failing on the agreement, according to public radio station KCUR.
Aetna told the station it is "bringing in additional leaders with extensive experience in Medicaid" to "help us effectively support the needs of this population."
Part of the shift, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is that Keith Wisdom departed his role as CEO of Aetna Better Health of Kansas. Aetna did not reveal to KCUR whether Mr. Wisdom has been replaced or the identities of new hires.
The new Kansas leadership comes after the state notified Aetna that its Medicaid contract is in danger of being terminated amid such problems as complaints of delayed payments to hospitals and physicians and absence of transparency regarding covered physicians and specialists.
After notification from the state, Aetna submitted a correction plan to state officials, KCUR reported. However, state officials told the station the plan did not address the issues, and they have met with the insurer.
Ashley Jones-Wisner, spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the state was notified of Aetna's leadership changes and that the insurer's new Kansas leaders "have a clear understanding regarding our expectations in order to come into compliance," KCUR reported.
According to the station, Aetna covers about 100,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Kansas.