In the summer of 2009, Ohio Association of Health Plans’ Medicaid Care Coodination plans (Managed Care Plans) were challenged with protecting their budgets within the state-run medicaid system. The state was considering moving away from managed care to fee-for-service. So, Milenthal-DelGrosso was engaged to help illustrate to state leadership that Medicaid Managed Care is the right system for facilitating health care to Ohio’s underserved population.

MD provided the following services to OAHP to affect how the Medicaid Managed Care plans were perceived at a state leadership level:

• We changed the language – moving what is often perceived negatively as “managed care” to “care coordination” to better reflect the collaborative relationship the plans have with their Medicaid members (recipients)
• Grassroots Effort – we encouraged Medicaid recipients to see their doctors annually by distr ibuting over 200,000 pieces were distributed throughout the state in areas where our target audience would see them (libraries, WICs, Community Centers, Community Health Centers, etc.)
• Wallscape Messaging – we needed to be noticed by state legislature, so we erected a large out-of-home wall scape on building directly across the street from the statehouse
• Statehouse Health Fair – All seven Medicaid Care Coordination plans set up booths on the statehouse lawn, and invited the public to get informed about Medicaid
• Created a Website – our website had tools and forms for providers (doctors), information for legislators, a social services directory, and a “Find a Plan” tool to help align a Medicaid-eligible person with a Medicaid plan

The results:

• The Medicaid budget was mostly held in tact during the biennium budget period