New Medicaid program stirs complaints among providers

Despite lingering concerns about funding levels and whether HealthChoices is worthwhile, the program is set to expand across the state.

Amid much political fanfare, HealthChoices was launched last year by the state. The cost-cuttings program was designed to save taxpayer dolls by taking Medical Assistance recipients out of the expensive fee-for-service stream and placing them in privately administered managed-care programs.

It is scheduled to be implemented in the Harrisburg area by March 31, 1999. For the rest of the state, it will he completed by March 31, 2000.

All four participating HMOs, Keystone Mercy Health Plan, Health Partners of Philadelphia Inc., Oxford …