One of three private companies brought in to manage administration and benefits within the state’s Medicaid program is ending its agreement. The Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday Meridian Health Plan will withdraw at the end of July.
“This has not been an easy decision,” says Dr. David Cotton, CEO of Detroit-based Meridian, “but our recent growth in the Midwest demands that we refocus our resources to continue to provide top-quality managed care products in our core markets.”
Meridian currently operates as a managed care organization in Michigan, Illinois and Iowa.
Last December, more than 100,000 Medicaid patients transitioned into the managed care system. Meridian’s 31,000 enrollees in the state will move to a managed care plan offered by either New Hampshire Healthy Families of Well Sense Health Plan.
“Meridian’s members and providers can be assured that we will work very closely with Meridian on how best to transition their members to our other two MCOs,” says Health and Human Services Commissioner Nick Toumpas.
