Dayton Daily News

CareSource applies to expand to Arkansas

- By Kaitlin Schroeder Staff Writer Contact this reporter at kaitlin. schroeder@coxinc.com.

CareSource is seeking to take its business to an additional state and has applied to start managing health insurance in Arkansas.

The Dayton-based insurance company filed for a license to manage health benefits for Arkansans with complex behavioral health, developmen­tal and intellectu­al disabiliti­es.

The deal requires licensure approval and a contract with the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

CareSource stated it intends to participat­e in the program starting Jan. 1, 2022. CareSource’s office will be in Little Rock, and the company said it will employ care coordinato­rs statewide.

Five Arkansas health-care organizati­ons and CareSource are going to jointly apply for the program.

This group would be part of the PASSE program that serves Medicaid clients with complex behavioral health, developmen­tal or intellectu­al disabiliti­es. The goal of the PASSE system is to monitor client’s health-care needs, keep them healthy and help them reach goals.

The founding organizati­ons include: Dr. James

Zini and the Zini Medical Clinic; Ashley County Medical Center; Acadia Healthcare Company Inc.; Chenal Family Therapy; Rehabilita­tion Network Outpatient Services; and CareSource.

“With our person-centered, community-based approach and integrated care model, CareSource has the experience to make health care easier for members and their caregivers, who play such a critical role in supporting an individual’s overall health and well-being,” Jason Bearden, CareSource Arkansas market president, said in a statement. “Our goal is to ensure that both formal and informal support are provided enabling individual­s to thrive at home, integrate into their communitie­s, connect with their loved ones and have a safe place to live.”

CareSource as of 2019 covered 1.8 million policyhold­ers. The company employs about 4,400.

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Jason Bearden

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