Since Ohio’s new managed care plan for dual eligibles rolled out locally in July, home health workers — and their agencies — have been struggling to adjust to payment processing changes, The Columbus Dispatch reports.
Before the plan, called “MyCare Ohio,” the government would process claims submitted by independent workers and home health agencies in a matter of days. But now the bills go to Aetna Better Health of Ohio or Molina Healthcare of Ohio, the two managed care companies for central Ohio. And turnaround is slower so far — forcing many home health workers to live paycheck to paycheck.
Some say the MyCare Ohio program didn’t explain how processing times could affect low-wage and independent providers, who are now grappling with the changes.
Emmanuel Swaray, the director of nursing at Better World, says the agency is struggling.
“Since the beginning of July, we haven’t been paid a dime for all the patients who switched over,” he said. “We’ve already lost seven patients because we don’t have staff who will work for free for now.”
Starr Dent, of Central Ohio Healthcare Systems, told the Dispatch she and her partner have been trying to pay their 67 employees with only 20% of their previous income flow. “It’s just devastation,” she said.
Ohio Medicaid spokesman Sam Rossi said the state and the insurance companies are working with providers to smooth the transition to the managed care plan.
Read the full Columbus Dispatch article here.
Written by Emily Study
