Iowa’s Department of Human Services says United Healthcare has signed the most Medicaid providers of the four private Managed Care Organizations that are slated to take over management of the state’s Medicaid system on Jan. 1. United Healthcare has signed almost 66 percent of the state’s nearly 30,000 Medicaid providers, Amerigroup has signed 57 percent, WellCare 50 percent, and AmeriHealth Caritas 43 percent.
Some providers have contacted with multiple Managed Care Organizations, or MCOs, and it’s unclear how many Medicaid providers have not signed with any of the MCOs. The MCOs say they are signing on new providers daily and feel positive about taking over Medicaid’s management on New Year’s Day.
Many Medicaid recipients say the MCOs are not providing clear information on which providers have been signed. They’re worried the new system will force them to stop going to providers they’ve been seeing for years.