UCare

Nov 4, 2015

Shift of residents on public health plans underway

State health officials are in the midst of a massive transition of residents on public health programs, shifting hundreds of thousands of low-income people to new coverage plans as the state aims to book millions of dollars in savings. The unprecedented effort is a byproduct of a competitive bid for companies to cover MinnesotaCare and ...

Nov 3, 2015

Huge shift of residents on public health care plans underway

State health officials are in the midst of a massive transition of residents on public health programs, shifting hundreds of thousands of low-income people to new coverage plans as the state aims to book millions of dollars in savings.

Sep 6, 2013

MNsure reveals costs of health insurance plans

Minnesota's health insurance exchange will offer more than 100 insurance products with a starting prices as low as $91 per month when it opens for business on Oct. 1, state officials announced on Friday.

Apr 11, 2013

Legislators voice dismay over management of state’s Medicaid rates

David Mosley has more than two decades of experience scrutinizing public health programs at the state and federal level. In all of that time, he's never encountered a state that did not collect paid claims data to provide a basis for setting its Medicaid rates.

Apr 10, 2013

Laine introduces bill to cap HMO assets

Rep. Carolyn Laine, DFL- has introduced legislation that would limit the net worth of health maintenance organizations to 25 percent of their expenses during the most recent calendar year. The proposal is intended to cap the wealth of the nonprofit health plans -- primarily HealthPartners, Medica, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and UCare -- that Minnesota contracts with to run the state's $8-[...]

Mar 8, 2013

DHS Medicaid audit points to problems

A preliminary audit of the state’s Medicaid rates released on March 1 determined that they were “actuarially sound.” That’s the finding that Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson repeatedly stressed during a phone call with reporters the day the report was released.

Aug 31, 2012

Congressional leaders seek further answers about Minnesota’s Medicaid program

Congressional investigators continue to dig into the financial details of Minnesota's $8 billion-per-year Medicaid program. On Thursday, a trio of powerful GOP legislators sent a letter to Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson seeking answers to additional questions.

Jul 20, 2012

Semantics or fraud? Congressional investigators probe UCare’s $30 milllion payment to state

Congressional investigators continue to ask pointed questions about Minnesota’s Medicaid program. At issue is a $30 million payment that UCare -- one of the four nonprofit health plans that primarily run the state’s Medicaid program -- agreed to make to the state last year. But lurking in the background are larger questions about the state’s overall methodology for tapping federal funds to [...]

Apr 3, 2012

Health plans agree to return $73 million in Medicaid funds

Minnesota's four primary health plans have agreed to return $73 million in excess profits to the state and federal government. The giveback is the result of an executive order issued by Gov. Mark Dayton that capped excess revenues at one percent for 2011.

Feb 22, 2012

Feds’ Medicaid investigation: Many questions, few answers

Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson set off a potential landmine last week when she revealed that the federal government is investigating the state’s Medicaid program. Roughly 600,000 poor people receive medical coverage through the program with the state and federal government splitting the $7B tab.