Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio stated that it has agreed to purchase the contract held by Paramount Advantage, which now covers 256,000 Medicaid members in Ohio. Anthem was recently awarded a statewide contract to serve Medicaid beneficiaries across all populations as a new entrant to the program, and the transaction is expected to close before the anticipated July 1, 2022, implementation date of Ohio’s new Medicaid managed care program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paramount Advantage\u2019s contract with the Ohio Department of Medicaid runs through June 30, 2022, and provides healthcare services to eligible recipients for Aged, Blind, or Disabled and Covered Families and Children, including Healthy Start and Healthy Families and Adult Expansion, Medicaid benefits. Upon closing the transaction, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will begin administering benefits for these members in coordination with Paramount Advantage during a transitional period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beginning July 1, 2022, Anthem will provide all aspects of operations related to the new Ohio Medicaid managed care program, including for current members of Paramount who remain with their current plan, in addition to any members assigned to Anthem as a result of its entry into the Ohio Medicaid managed care program, and other beneficiaries who elect to enroll with Anthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnthem has served the whole-health needs of Ohioans for more than 81 years and we look forward to expanding access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare services for more Medicaid-eligible individuals,\u201d said Greg LaManna, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield\u2019s Medicaid President in Ohio. \u201cThis transaction expands our commitment to further the Next Generation of Ohio Medicaid Managed Care in advance of the new Medicaid contract.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n