DHS Awards Landmark Medicaid Agreements

Pennsylvania Continues Shift to Outcome and Value-based Payment Structure

On April 27, Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Ted Dallas announced that the state has agreed to move forward and negotiate contracts with eight managed care organizations (MCOs) to deliver physical health services to Pennsylvanians through HealthChoices, Pennsylvania’s mandatory Medicaid managed care program since 1997.

“These agreements mark the most significant change in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program since we moved to managed care 18 years ago,” said Dallas. “Over the next three years, MCOs will be investing billions of dollars in innovative approaches that reward high-quality care that improves patient health rather than just providing services for a fee. The result will be higher levels of quality care for the 2.1 million Pennsylvanians served by Medicaid.”

HealthChoices delivers quality medical care and timely access to all appropriate services to children, individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, and low-income Pennsylvanians. For more information, visit the HealthChoices website or DHS website.

DHS has selected the following MCOs to proceed with negotiations to deliver services in Pennsylvania beginning in 2017. The agreements are awarded in five geographic regions: