News Briefs

May 6

✦ Oklahoma lawmakers at press time were attempting to replace Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt’s plan to transition fee-for-service Medicaid beneficiaries to a managed care model later this year, which will include the expanded adult group enrolling next month. Senate Bill 131 would require the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to develop a program that “controls costs and improves health outcomes for Medicaid beneficiaries” as an alternative to the managed care system that will address the voter-approved Medicaid expansion. The bill passed the House late last month and has returned to the Senate for final consideration, although it is likely to be vetoed by the governor, according to news reports. In a statement posted to the governor’s website, Stitt chided House Republicans for their “disappointing” vote and said he would “continue to advocate for this needed change.” Oklahoma will begin enrolling newly eligible adults into the SoonerCare program on June 1 for coverage effective July 1. On Oct. 1, OHCA will transition nonexempt beneficiaries to the SoonerSelect managed care model, which will be served by four MCOs (RMA 2/4/21, p. 8). View https://bit.ly/3vHuutT.

✦ Humana Inc. plans to fully acquire home health provider Kindred at Home from private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS) and TPG Capital, the insurer said on April 27. (WCAS owns a controlling stake in MMIT, AIS Health’s parent company.) The insurer also reported strong financial results, with first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $7.67 beating Wall Street’s consensus estimate of $7.07, or $1.04 billion in pretax income. Visit https://humana.gcs-web.com.

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Radar on Medicare Advantage

Lauren Flynn Kelly Managing Editor, Radar on Medicare Advantage

Lauren has been covering health business issues since the early 2000s and specializes in in-depth reporting on Medicare Advantage, managed Medicaid and Medicare Part D. She also possesses a deep understanding of the complex world of pharmacy benefit management, having written AIS Health’s Radar on Drug Benefits from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2011 to 2016. In addition to her role as managing editor of Radar on Medicare Advantage, she oversees AIS Health’s publications and manages the health editorial staff. She graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in English.