BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York recently announced an alliance with Amerigroup Partnership Plan to help administer and manage the company’s Medicaid managed care programs.
BlueCross BlueShield recently notified the New York State Department of Health (DOH) of the agreement and its intention to continue to serve its current 26,000 Medicaid members.
Pending approval from DOH, BlueCross BlueShield will begin to enroll new members in the coming months and anticipates the full transition of management services to Amerigroup by the end of 2016.
BlueCross BlueShield members do not need to make any changes as a result of this agreement. Additional information and updates will be provided to BlueCross BlueShield Medicaid members, health care providers and all other critical stakeholders in the coming months.
The agreement is limited to BlueCross BlueShield’s state-sponsored programs and does not impact any other lines of business, nor reflect any broader long-term strategy.
“We have a long history of supporting our Medicaid members, which is core to our mission as a community-based, not-for-profit health plan,” said Dave Anderson, president and CEO, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York. “Amerigroup’s experience and expertise will allow us to remain in Medicaid long term, and continue to deliver access to high-quality health care.”
Amerigroup’s parent company serves more than six million Medicaid members nationwide through its subsidiaries, including 460,000 Medicaid members in downstate New York through Empire HealthPlus. It maintains similar alliances with several partners across the country who participate or desire to participate in Medicaid programs.