JACKSON, Miss., Dec. 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnolia Health – a leading provider of health care coverage that improves care across Mississippi – has partnered with the Mississippi Physicians Care Network to offer enhanced services for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). MPCN is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mississippi State Medical Association. Enrollment in the CHIP program began Nov. 15.
"Our number one priority is to promote healthy lifestyles for Mississippi children," said Dr. Jason B. Dees, president and CEO of Magnolia Health. "Through this partnership with MPCN, we are further delivering on our commitment to ensure our members receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place."
The partnership will provide affordable, high quality health care to thousands of CHIP members, and give them a continuum of care in a robust statewide network of thousands of physicians and specialists in more than 100 hospitals – creating centers of excellence across Mississippi.
"We are excited about partnering with Magnolia Health to deliver better health care service to the children of Mississippi through the new CHIP program," said Scott Dennis, CEO of MPCN. "Our children are our future, and we must provide them with a healthy lifestyle so they can reach for their dreams in everything they do."
The partnership provides enhanced service to CHIP members in a variety of convenient settings:
- Urgent care facilities
- Outpatient surgery centers
- Home health care
- Physical therapy and rehab centers
- Laboratories
- Radiology facilities
- Hospitals
CHIP Enrollment packets were mailed by the Mississippi Division of Medicaid on or around Nov. 15. Packets include enrollment forms, and residents will have 30 days to select which Coordinated Care Organization they would like to have. If they do not mail the form back within 30 days, the Division of Medicaid will auto-enroll them into one of the two CCOs. For more information about the Magnolia Health CHIP plan, call toll-free 866.912.6285.
Mississippi children under the age of 19 are eligible for this comprehensive health program. To qualify, families must meet specific income guidelines and must not be eligible for Medicaid.
About Magnolia Health
Magnolia Health is a long-term solution to help the state of Mississippi enhance care for Medicaid and CHIP recipients, while most effectively managing taxpayer dollars. A physician-driven, Mississippi-based Coordinated Care Organization (CCO), Magnolia is backed by its parent company, Centene Corporation (Centene). Centene has more than 30 years of experience in Medicaid, CHIP and other government-funded programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and long-term care. For more information about Magnolia, visit www.magnoliahealthplan.com.
About Mississippi Physicians Care Network (MPCN)
Mississippi Physicians Care Network was founded in 1994 by the Mississippi State Medical Association, and provides the broadest choice of physicians and specialists in the state at competitive, network negotiated rates. The core value of MPCN is that the cornerstone of health care is not managed care, but the doctor-patient relationship. That's why MPCN – one of the state's most comprehensive networks – includes thousands of doctors and specialists. The MPCN network also offers an extensive number of ancillary providers, a group that provides care over and above physician services. These providers represent specialties including but not limited to: laboratories, out-patient surgery centers, durable medical equipment, home health care, physical therapy rehab and radiology facilities. MPCN offers more than 100 hospitals statewide centers of excellence like University of Mississippi Medical Center, Ochsner and University of Alabama - Birmingham. For more information about MPCN, visit www.mpcn-ms.com.