In 2019, North Carolina will bring on private health plans to manage its Medicaid program, according to StarNews Online.
North Carolina expects the change to cut down the state's Medicaid costs and increase care efficiency. Private health insurers now manage Medicaid programs in 38 states, according to Kaiser Health News. However, studies and government reports have failed to prove this model improves care quality or generates greater cost efficiencies.
In North Carolina, state officials plan to roll out privatization in November 2019, pending approval from CMS. Here are the eight health insurers applying to manage North Carolina's Medicaid program:
1. Aetna
2. AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
3. BCBSNC – Healthy Blue
4. Carolina Complete Health
5. My Health by Health Providers
6. Optima Health
7. UnitedHealthcare
8. WellCare Health Plans
To learn more about North Carolina's privatization efforts, click here.