Passport Health Plan and Anthem Kentucky will no longer offer Medicaid coverage to Kentuckians starting next summer. State officials announced Wednesday that it did not award those providers contracts following the expiration of their current contracts at the end of June 2020.
This year, there are five Medicaid providers who cover 1.3 million enrollees in Kentucky. The state will renew contracts with Aetna, Humana and WellCare. The latter of which — in a change — will be dedicated to children in the foster care system and those in the juvenile justice system.
Molina and UnitedHealthcare will receive fresh contracts for next year.
Compared to other Medicaid managed care organizations in Kentucky, Passport has struggled financially following a change to reimbursement rates by the state. Passport is the only nonprofit Medicaid provider in the state. Earlier this year, it brought in a new CEO and sold a majority stake to its business partner Evolent.
“We are deeply disappointed in this decision, having been a committed partner to the state and an organization that has been dedicated to improving Kentuckians’ health and wellbeing for more than 20 years, with demonstrable results,” said Passport Chief Executive Officer Scott Bowers in a press release. “We intend to protest the state’s decision with the goal of continuing to provide Medicaid benefits and improve the health and quality of life of our members throughout the Commonwealth.”
This story has been updated.
