LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Nebraska Medicaid officials stated their intentions to delay the selection of a new company to manage the state's $1.8 billion Medicaid program. Medicaid Director Kevin Bagley stated that the winning bid, of five applicant companies, will be announced on Sept. 23, instead of Wednesday.

Bagley believes this delay will give Medicaid more time to interview each applicant and give out scores. "Our goal has been to do his right, even if it takes some time. We know stakeholders are eager to learn who will be chosen," said Bagley.

The applicant who wins the bid will be in charge of physical and behavioral health care, pharmacy services, and dental benefits for almost all Medicaid patients in Nebraska. Overall, they will serve around 350,000 Nebraskans. Once a selection is made, the new contracts will begin in July 2023, and end in 2028.

Bagley stated that all of the applicants provided quality bids, but wants to allow Medicaid to ask additional questions to each. The bidders include Community Care Plan of Nebraska, Nebraska Total Care, UnitedHealth Care of the Midlands, Medica Community Health Plan, and Molina Healthcare of Nebraska.

Nebraska lawmakers have criticized certain bidders in the past, usually for failing to do the job as outlined in the contract. This includes the Kansas-based St. Francis Ministries, which failed to fulfill its contract with Nebraska.

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