Passport Health Plan Launches New Dual Eligible Product

Passport Health Plan announced that it has received full approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to create and run a Medicare Advantage (MA)/Medicare Advantage-Prescription Drug (MA-PD) program to offer medical and pharmacy benefits to people who have both Kentucky Medicaid and Medicare benefits.

The program – which will be called “Passport Advantage” – will be available to residents of Bullitt, Jefferson, Hardin, and Nelson counties who have both Medicaid and Medicare benefits. This Special Needs Plan for Dual-eligible beneficiaries (D-SNP) will allow Passport to provide intensive care coordination and services to a population that often experiences fragmented care.

“Passport temporarily exited the Medicare Advantage business at the end of 2011 to focus on our Medicaid product delivery and service. Doing so allowed us to gain record growth while maintaining the highest NCQA ranking for any Medicaid plan in Kentucky,” said Passport Health Plan CEO Mark B. Carter. “By returning to the Medicare Advantage market with the Passport Advantage product, we will be able to provide improved care and continuity using the same providers for people eligible for Medicaid and Medicare benefits.”

Members who sign up for Passport Advantage will select a primary care physician that will provide both Medicare and Medicaid services. The signup period begins on October 15, 2015, with services scheduled to begin on January 1, 2016. In addition to offering all of the traditional Medicare benefits, Passport Advantage has added incredible side benefits at no cost to the member. These benefits – all available at no cost to the member – include Extended Dental Coverage, Dentures, Glasses, Hearing Aids, and much more.

Passport Health Plan is a provider-sponsored, non-profit, community-based health plan. Named the #19 Medicaid health plan in the United States and the top Medicaid plan ranked in Kentucky by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for 2014-15, Passport has been contracted with Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services to administer Medicaid benefits since 1997 and has been serving the entire state since January 1, 2014.