Monday, March 17, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- The long-delayed program to allow welfare families to enroll in managed health care companies is starting.
The state Department of Human Resources said Thursday that 50,000 of those now eligible for Medicaid will be able to choose a managed-care system.
In Clark County, Health Plan of Nevada and Amil International of Nevada will offer their services. Hometown Health Plan in Reno will serve welfare families in Washoe, Douglas, Story and Lyon counties.
The program is voluntary. The 1995 Legislature ordered the department to start a managed-care system for those families enrolled in the federal program known as Aid to Dependent Children. The agency began to prepare, but then backed off when Congress got close to changing the Medicaid program. But that didn't happen.
The department decided instead of a mandatory program, it would be optional so the state could judge how it would work.
The aged, blind and disabled who qualify for Medicaid as well as welfare families in those areas not covered by health maintenance organizations will continue with their regular doctors.
Orientation sessions began March 3 for those families who are eligible for managed care.
Charlotte Crawford, director of the department, said, "Establishing a voluntary program is an important first step in bringing the efficiencies of managed care to the Medicaid program. I applaud the efforts of the HMOs as well as the Welfare Division staff in making Medicaid managed care a reality."
Medicaid currently costs $500 million a year, about half of it from state funds, to cover the health-care needs of 100,000 low-income Nevadans.
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