Evaluation of the HealthChoice Program

Abstract

HealthChoice, Maryland’s statewide mandatory Medicaid managed care program, was implemented in 1997 under authority of Section 1115 of the Social Security Act. The HealthChoice managed care program currently enrolls over 80 percent of the state’s Medicaid population. The program also enrolls children in the Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), Maryland’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Since the program’s inception, the Maryland Department of Health has conducted four comprehensive evaluations as part of the 1115 waiver renewals. Between waiver renewals, the Department continually monitors HealthChoice performance on a variety of measures and completes an annual evaluation for HealthChoice stakeholders. This report is the 2011 annual evaluation of the HealthChoice program.