Policymakers Need to Consider Children and Families While

Transitioning to Managed Care  

Statement by Lacey McNary, Deputy Director of Kentucky Youth Advocates

“Governor Beshear announced today that four companies were awarded contracts through the expansion of Medicaid Managed Care. While it is difficult to know the outcomes of this major transition in the state health care system, one thing is clear: state officials must actively educate families so they are knowledgeable about the changes in health care that are coming their way.

At this point, the national experience with managed care has been both positive and negative. In some cases, managed care has produced dramatic savings and improved health outcomes. In other cases, the reverse has occurred, and the cost-saving strategies used by managed care companies have compromised the well-being of plan members by making it more difficult to navigate an already complex health care system. Managed care can be a catalyst to or a barrier for children’s health outcomes.

It is critical that those driving this transition work to increase efficiencies, and positively impact the well-being of our state’s most vulnerable population, our youth, while the managed care option becomes a reality. ”

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