Health plans drop out of CT Medicaid over disclosure rules

Connecticut's Medicaid program is struggling to regain its equilibrium after a standoff over new provider contracting disclosure rules prompted a handful of health plans to jump ship. In 2007, Gov. Jodi Rell (R) demanded that HMOs participating in Husky, the state's Medicaid program, share information on the details of their contracts with providers. Her position was that since they contracted with the state, they were, in essence, acting as public agencies for the purposes of participating in Husky.

The plans disagreed, however, arguing that they couldn't disclose proprietary contracting information. Two HMOs pulled out of Husky in April, leaving 120,000 Medicaid beneficiaries to transfer to other forms of coverage. A third will leave on July 1, bringing the total to 226,000 beneficiaries. Meanwhile, two participants, Anthem Health Plans and Health Net of Connecticut, are challenging the disclosure requirement in the Connecticut Supreme Court.

To learn more about the dispute:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report item

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