Four vendors want in on managing Rhode Island’s Medicaid Program

Four private health insurance companies are competing for a piece of the state’s $3.5 billion Medicaid program under a new, six-year contract. And no more than three will be chosen, as decided by the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services when it issued the competitive solicitation in December.

The determination to cap payees at three vendors was made based on the state market, Kerri White, an agency spokesperson said in email on Thursday. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lets states decide how to structure their contracts with private health insurers, or managed care organizations, who oversee Medicaid services.