Ohio Medicaid Defers Buckeye Renewal as Centene Suit Lingers

Apr 15
Apr 15, 2021

More than three months after the intended award announcement date, the Ohio Dept. of Medicaid (ODM) on April 9 named six managed care organizations that will serve its newly redesigned Medicaid program starting in 2022. One notable exclusion from that group was Buckeye Community Health Plan, the Ohio subsidiary of Centene Corp. that received a designation of “Defer” as alleged violations of its current pact with ODM are the subject of ongoing litigation and, according to one industry expert, could have devastating effects for Centene.

In order from highest to lowest qualifying score, the six winners of the state’s request for applications (RFA) are: UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, Inc., Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio, Inc., AmeriHealth Caritas Ohio, Inc., Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and CareSource Ohio, Inc.
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Lauren Flynn Kelly

Lauren has been covering health business issues since the early 2000s and specializes in in-depth reporting on Medicare Advantage, managed Medicaid and Medicare Part D. She also possesses a deep understanding of the complex world of pharmacy benefit management, having written AIS Health’s Radar on Drug Benefits from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2011 to 2016. In addition to her role as managing editor of Radar on Medicare Advantage, she oversees AIS Health’s publications and manages the health editorial staff. She graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in English.