State Preparing New Healthcare Program

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and the Department of Aging are working on a program called The Integrated Care Initiative that would combine medicare and medicaid coverage in Pennsylvania. The state is working on the program because of the amount of people who are dual members of the programs and experience multiple payment systems, provider networks and benefits. It is believed that by combining the two programs into one provider, receiving medical and supportive services would become less confusing for the consumer. The program will not begin accepting enrollments until June of 2010 and will not be fully up and running until January of 2011.