Over 360,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Maryland now have a new health plan option

Diamond Plan from Coventry Health Care expands to serve individuals and families in 13 additional counties

Over 360,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Maryland now have a new health plan option

Coventry Health Care, Inc.Kendall Marcocci, 717-540-6746Director of Communications, Coventry HealthAmerica

Diamond Plan has been approved by the state of Maryland to begin offering its health plans to Medicaid beneficiaries in 13 additional counties.

Diamond Plan is an affiliate of Coventry Health Care, a national managed health care company based in Bethesda that serves nearly 1 million Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide. For more than a decade, Diamond Plan has been a popular option for Medicaid recipients in the city of Baltimore, and in the counties of Baltimore, Cecil and Harford. On January 1, 2013, Diamond Plan was approved for Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties. As of April 1, 2013, Diamond Plan is also available in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties.

The majority of Maryland’s Medicaid beneficiaries are served through the HealthChoice Program from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. With HealthChoice, recipients enroll in a managed care plan of their choice, and select a primary care provider to oversee their medical needs.

“Diamond Plan’s mission has always been to help people actively manage their health, while working with them to access the care and services they need to live healthy, full lives,” said Brenda Myrick, vice president and general manager for Diamond Plan. “We are very pleased to be able to expand our services in Maryland, providing families with broader choice. We also look forward to a long and successful partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other state agencies.”

Diamond Plan works closely with providers to engage patients more actively in their health. The health plan also has an educational awareness program to remind Maryland’s families about the importance of preventive care.

“We see ongoing opportunities to help our local families improve their health through early intervention programs, immunizations, well baby programs and other medical management programs,” said Myrick. “Our staff stands ready to work with our community’s leaders to improve health outcomes for citizens.”

In addition, Diamond Plan will identify members who would benefit most from its case management services, including high-risk pregnant women and members living with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes and heart conditions.

More information about Diamond Plan can be found at .

Diamond Plan is a Managed Care Plan for Maryland HealthChoice offered by Coventry Health Care of Delaware, Inc. The plan is currently available in the city of Baltimore and in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico and Worcester counties to Maryland residents who are newly eligible HealthChoice members and those existing members eligible for the annual right to change. Coventry offers a broad provider network throughout the Maryland Medicaid Managed Care counties and a local Medicaid team that includes nurses, a medical director, outreach coordinators, network development, provider relations and operations staff.

Coventry Health Care of Delaware, Inc is a subsidiary of Coventry Health Care, Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Bethesda, Maryland. It has extensive Medicaid experience, serving nearly one million customers in nine states.