Medicaid beneficiaries may choose health plans
Contributed by S.C.Dept.of Health and Human Services

Medicaid beneficiaries will soon be able to choose their own health plans. Medicaid beneficiaries statewide can participate in the agency's Healthy Connections Choices program.

Healthy Connections Choices is part of the state's overall Medicaid reform plan designed to get a better return on S.C.'s health care investment. Through partnerships with managed care entities, medical home networks, and special enrollment counselors, SCDHHS seeks to increase care coordination and disease prevention methods not found in traditional fee- for- service Medicaid.

Participants will establish crucial relationships with a primary care doctor. Currently, many Medicaid beneficiaries are left to navigate the health care system on their own.

Under Healthy Connections Choices, participants will receive the same benefits as those in traditional Medicaid, and also extra services offered through the individual plans such as unlimited doctor visits, eyeglasses and dental care for adults, smoking cessation classes and programs tailored for those with specific diseases.

Enrollment in a plan is voluntary. S.C.'s initiative uses market- based principles, choice and competition, to encourage a high level of accountability and value from the plans. Medicaid managed care plans have been available in S.C. since 1996. Visit the website at www.SCchoices.com or call toll free 1-877-552-4642.