Thursday, February 2, 2012

The state's largest insurance company says it will not bid to be part of Gov. Sam Brownback's proposal to overhaul the state's Medicaid program.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas said Wednesday that the effort to shift Medicaid programs to private health insurance companies would require it to dramatically change its businesses practices in
less than a year.

The governor wants the state to contract with three companies to manage Medicaid, which provides health coverage to poor families
and disabled and elderly Kansans.

Rep. Jim Ward, a Democrat from Wichita, says Blue Cross' decision raises questions about the financial feasibility of the governor's plan.
Ward introduced a bill to require annual audits to ensure that private companies don't reduce benefits to Medicaid recipients.