Angela Ellis, adult services supervisor of Greene County Department of Social Services, presents information on Medicaid transformation to the Greene County Commissioners on Monday evening. Photo by Rudy Coggins/NeuseNews

SNOW HILL - Open enrollment started Oct. 14 for Medicaid transformation managed care for low-income children and their families, seniors and disabled persons in North Carolina.

Managed care has been established to improve the health and well-being of citizens that addresses both medical and non-medical initiatives of health. The state will contact insurance companies, who will be paid a predetermined set rate person to provide all services.

The Department of Social Services will continue to determine eligibility and redetermine eligibility for Medicaid.

"Families will still come to the Department of Social Services, complete an application to determine [Medicaid] eligibility," said Angela Ellis, adult services supervisor at Greene County Department of Social Services.

"Once eligibility has been established for new families, they're going to receive an enrollment packet. The enrollment packet will include an application that they will have to fill out for all of their family members ... mandatory."

Current Medicaid clients have received an enrollment packet.

North Carolina will contract directly with insurance companies. Those providers have until Nov. 16 to enroll with primary health plans.

Beneficiaries can choose their health plan and primary care provider (PCP). Medicaid services will not change, but the primary health plan may offer enhanced services to their members.

Four pre-paid health plans are available to residents of Greene County - WellCare, United Healthcare of NC, Inc., AmeriHealth Caritas NC, Inc., and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

"One of the things that we're talking with all of our clients that they need to make sure first and foremost that they're talking to their primary care provider to find out who they are willing to contract with," Ellis said.

A community event to discuss Medicaid transformation is scheduled Nov. 7 from 3-6 p.m. at the Greene County Senior Center. All four PHPs that cover Greene County will be present as well as the broker representative from Maximus.

Once the state decides, the DSS will have an broker from Maximus in house available three days a week. Until then, Ellis said clients are given an 800 number to talk with Maximus.

The enrollment period ends Dec. 13, 2019.

If an individual does not choose a plan by the closing enrollment date, starting Dec. 16, 2019, they will be auto-assigned into a plan.

North Carolina's new Medicaid plan goes live in February 2020.