Florida Medicaid’s aim to enroll virtually all program beneficiaries into private managed care plans begins its greatest challenge today. The transition in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties will add more than half a million people to the Managed Medical Assistance program, the Miami Herald reports.
When Central Florida counties are added in August, private companies will manage the care of nearly all 3.6 million Florida Medicaid patients, most of whom are women and children. So far, 1.1 million Floridians have made the move.
Medicaid officials say that only 40 percent of those who have to enroll are choosing their own plans; a special computer program is matching the others to plans that include their primary care doctor.
Lawmakers believe that the move will restrain costs and promote coordination of health services.