Wolf touts choices under new initiative

some of which continues.

“They don’t understand it and think they don’t have a choice,” said Leslie Cejrowski, service coordinator at the Stephen Foster center. “Anything new, especially with seniors — change is not good for them.”

But state officials said 54 percent of the 80,000 affected in the region on Jan. 1 have voluntarily selected a managed care organization, which they described as higher than other states. The other 46 percent had one of the three insurers assigned to them, though people can change their MCO. There is also a transitional period of three to six months in which individuals may continue all of their existing services, regardless of their MCO network.

State officials made repeated references Wednesday to how what’s learned from the program’s roll-out in the Pittsburgh region will help make sure Community HealthChoices works best for the rest of the state eventually.

“Is it going to be perfect? I don’t think so,” acting Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller acknowledged of the startup. “There are always going to be bumps in the road.”

Mark Lewandowski, a driver for the Stephen Foster center’s Meals on Wheels program, told the governor that the many homebound individuals he delivers to are worried about various government-supported services being cut.

Under Community HealthChoices, Mr. Wolf responded, funding and services will not be reduced. The hope instead is to make more efficient use of the $6 billion in Medicaid funding on long-term care services, while giving people what they prefer.

“The goal is to do a better job, not cut back,” he said, suggesting failure would come only if people don’t believe their options have improved. The Wilding Family .... $1,000 Anonymous ................. $500 In honor of Peg & Jack .. $500 Anonymous ................. $300 Lippert Family .............. $200 Nancy H. Bergey .......... $150 Candy & Kent .............. $115 Dottie Reed ........... $100.50 John & Ann Buckman .. $100 In Memory of Martha & Rob Finley .... $100 Marty Rich ................... $100 Jane & Jim Finley ......... $100 In Memory of Melva (”Mel”) Gibson ............ $100 In Memory of Kathleen Smolenski .... $100 In Memory of Rex Rowland ............... $100 In Memory of James L. McGuire Jr. .. $100 In Memory of Angie Kazmeraski ....... $100