ION Health Plan Quits Medical Assistance

Erie and Mercer Counties Impacted by the Move

ION Health Plan, an HMO which has a contract with Pennsylvania to provide Medical Assistance (MA) in six counties, including Erie and Mercer, has terminated its contract, effective April 1, 2006. A little over 20,000 MA recipients were impacted by this development, most of them in Erie County. Recipients should already be in the process of selecting a new health plan.

If any ION Health Plan members are experiencing transition issues, (including services being denied because the prior authorization by ION is not respected by the new plan, or inability to continue treatment with a provider who does not participate in the plan to which the member has been transitioned), they are urged to contact the Pennsylvania Health Law Project helpline toll-free at the following number:

PA Health Law Project at (800) 274-3258

MA recipients in northwestern Pennsylvania are also urged to follow the latest developments in state policies regarding their health coverage by going to the Health Law Project's Web site at:
www.phlp.org