Centene subsidiary Buckeye Health Plan is joining the ranks of Ohio's six Medicaid managed care organizations, the state Department of Medicaid announced Aug. 13.
Buckeye Health Plan will leverage a localized approach alongside community partners and innovative technologies, according to an Aug. 17 announcement.
"We have great respect for the critically important and long-standing partnership with the state of Ohio," said Brent Layton, executive vice president and president of U.S. markets, products and international for Centene. "We are humbled and honored to continue to offer high-quality healthcare services and programs for our members. We are committed to continuing our work with the Ohio Department of Medicaid, our providers, and community partners to remove barriers to care and improve health outcomes for Ohioans."
The contract begins in early 2022.
The announcement comes on the heels of a settled lawsuit against Buckeye and Centene as its parent company that alleged Centene's pharmacy benefits manager misrepresented pharmacy costs for Medicaid beneficiaries. The Department of Medicaid initially delayed its decision on Buckeye's application, but notified the organization of the contract approval once it completed its review.