70K poor kids could lose dental care

Up to 71,000 low-income children in Georgia may lose dental care by the end of this month. Kool Smiles says that’s likely to happen when Peach State Health Plant and WellCare terminate their contracts with the company. The organizations are two of Georgia's three managed care organizations responsible for Medicaid dental coverage for poor children. The Atlanta-based company also says losing the business could force it to close.

State fines managed care group for the poor

The state is fining one of its new Medicaid managed care organizations $3.7 million for failing to provide timely patient care.

An audit by the Georgia Department of Community Health found Peach State Health Plan was slow in granting Medicaid families and Peachcare kids permission to receive medical services.

Agency spokesperson Amanda Seals says DCH stands by its year-old privatized managed care program and will work with Peach State.

"The Department takes their obligations very seriously," says Seals. "But, we also still feel that these plans are doing a better job of managing health care and improving the health outcomes while getting a better value for the state dollar."

Peach State is appealing the fine. In the meantime, it has replaced its top executive. The company provides health services for nearly 280 thousand poor and working-class Georgians.