Centene
Sixth state settles with Medicaid contractor
New Hampshire became the sixth state to announce a settlement with a Medicaid managed-care company that Ohio first accused of ripping off taxpayers. In a statement last week, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella said that St. Louis-based Centene had agreed to pay the state $21.1 million to settle state claims that Centene overbilled […]
CEO of health company accused of bilking Ohio taxpayers stepping down
Six months after setting aside $1.25 billion to settle fraud claims with Ohio and 21 other states, the CEO of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed-care company has announced his retirement. Despite the scandal, Ohio continues to contract with the company. And although Centene denies it’s the case, the problems might have played into the CEO’s […]
Medicaid giant settles with fifth state
Centene, the nation’s largest Medicaid managed-care provider, has settled fraud allegations with a fifth state, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Monday. The $27.6 million Kansas settlement comes after Mississippi, Illinois and Arkansas announced settlements totaling $154 million. All of those follow a settlement with Ohio — the only state to actually sue the company […]
Big questions remain in huge Medicaid procurement
A Franklin County judge earlier this month dismissed a lawsuit over the largest public procurement in Ohio history. But important questions remain about potential corruption and conflicts of interest among key players who had a say in how the contracts were awarded. It’s unclear whether those questions will be answered. In April, the Ohio Department […]
Attempt to block $22 billion Medicaid contracts dismissed
A judge on Tuesday dismissed an attempt to overturn more than $22 billion worth of managed-care business as the Ohio Department of Medicaid tries to reshape the way it works with 3 million low-income and disabled Ohioans. However, questions remain about potential conflicts of interest on the part of some involved in awarding the business. […]
Centene prison-health subsidiary overcomes claims in Missouri
The company providing health care to Missouri prisoners failed to prove a competitor misled state purchasing officers to win the $1.4 billion contract, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Thursday. Corizon Health, which has been the state’s vendor for prisoner medical needs since 1992, accused the state Purchasing Division of giving the contract to […]
After Ohio scandal, Medicaid managed-care giant to exit the pharmacy business
Centene, the nation’s largest Medicaid managed-care company, is planning to stop its work as a pharmacy middleman, or pharmacy benefit manager. Executives last week said the company is issuing a $30 billion request for proposals from an outside contractor to take over the work. The news comes after Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost sued the […]
Medicaid chief stresses transparency, won’t talk about her investments in giant contractors
Medicaid chief stresses transparency, won't talk about her investments in giant contractors.
Company hints that Medicaid director acted improperly. It’s happened before
A company that was passed over for a piece of the biggest set of contracts ever let by the state of Ohio hinted in court Wednesday that Ohio Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran might have acted improperly. Kirsten R. Fraser, an attorney for managed-care provider Paramount Advantage, asked a Medicaid official if Corcoran or one of […]
Bias, conflict were present in $22 billion Ohio Medicaid contract, bidder says
A Toledo-area health care provider says that it’s received top ratings in the eight years it’s provided managed-care services to the Ohio Medicaid program. It hinted that it was the victim of bias and possible conflicts of interest earlier this year when it missed out on a share of a five-year, $22 billion program meant […]
Medicaid department: No emails between DeWine-connected lobbyist and staff
There were no emails between an old friend of Gov. Mike DeWine and Medicaid staff after a major Medicaid contractor hired the friend to lobby on its behalf at the beginning of the year, a Medicaid lawyer said Tuesday. Any such communications would be of interest because the company, Centene, hired Michael Kiggin just two […]
Medicaid department mum on contacts with DeWine-connected lobbyist
A close, long-standing friend of Gov. Mike DeWine registered early this year to lobby on behalf of a giant Medicaid provider — just before Attorney General Dave Yost accused the company of ripping off tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. The company, St. Louis-based Centene, later agreed to pay out $88 million to Ohio and […]