AmeriHealth Caritas taking over some case management services from CSS

When in April of 20116 Medicaid was switched to a privatized program overseen by three Managed Care Organizations, County Social Services and other organizations that managed Medicaid patients’ cases had to adjust to some changes in structure. Of the three MCOs—AmeriGroup Iowa, Inc., UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc., and AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa, Inc.—only AmeriHealth Caritas chose to contract with CSS for case management. However, this week, AmeriHealth released an official statement saying they were moving some of their case management inhouse.

Jen Sheehan, Wright County social services supervisor, said that though they would still manage some of the cases they did before, she was unsure which segments of their client base would switch over to AmeriHealth’s management. “Every single member will receive a letter stating that their case management may change,” she said. “If it affects them, they will receive a second letter.” There will be a 30-day transition period for all patients switching over.

Sheehan discussed with the county supervisors on Monday what this might mean for her case managers, but at this point, she doesn’t have firm numbers on what will change. “I think the biggest message for everyone is just that we’ll continue to provide case management as we have and do a great job at it until we learn more information,” she said.

Read the full article in the Feb. 16 edition of the Eagle.