Here’s what you should know:
1. The Missouri Foundation for Health, an independent, philanthropic foundation, worries patients will fall through the cracks after the changes become effective May 1.
2. Currently, 54 state counties use a managed care system. Starting May 1, all 115 state counties will move to managed care systems.
3. Seniors and disabled residents are exempt.
4. In addition to the switch, Aetna — which previously managed care for 55 percent of Medicaid recipients — is no longer an option. The state awarded UnitedHealthcare a contract over Aetna. WellCare and Home State Health Plan will also be marketplace options.
5. The state required Medicaid beneficiaries to select from the three payers beforehand, but the Post-Dispatch reports less than 20 percent of 750,000 eligible people have done so. The state will automatically enroll the remaining beneficiaries into a plan.
6. Healthcare advocates worry the low response rate is an indicator that beneficiaries are unsure of the change.
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