Press Releases

More healthcare options for West Virginians: State's first Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicaid plan looks beyond traditional care to help members

• Highmark Health Options West Virginia is state’s newest managed care organization (MCO).
• Known for its support of frontline nonprofits that improve members’ food, housing and transportation, insurer extends into West Virginia a high-performing social care network program to address members’ foremost needs.
• State Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries can currently enroll in the plan for coverage date.

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (July 31, 2024) — Highmark Health Options West Virginia (HHO WV) — the state’s newest managed care organization (MCO) and first-ever Blue Cross Blue Shield-branded MCO to serve West Virginians — will officially launch statewide Aug. 1. As the insurer readies its entry into the state, it’s already working with 10 local frontline nonprofits as part of a high-performing social care network program that addresses key health-related social needs in the communities where its members live.

One in three Americans, more than 115 million people, are ensured by Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans, including nearly six million Federal employees. Highmark Health Options West Virginia will deliver quality, affordable plans to West Virginians in need, as Blue Cross Blue Shield plans have provided to millions of Americans for decades.

Highmark Health Options enables Highmark West Virginia, a trusted brand that has cared for West Virginians for 80 years, to provide high-quality, high-value, affordable coverage to Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries throughout the state. Highmark Health Options West Virginia will be headquartered in the Highmark West Virginia building in downtown Parkersburg.

Highmark Health Options West Virginia’s parent company, Highmark Inc. (Highmark), has been serving Medicaid enrollees for 30-plus years. Highmark, one of the 10 largest health insurers in the United States, currently cares for more than 500,000 Medicaid beneficiaries across three regional states, including neighboring Pennsylvania and Delaware.

"As a lifelong West Virginian with deep generational family ties, it’s an honor and privilege to lead our efforts to help our neighbors in need live better lives,” said Jason Landers, president, HHO WV. “This is a responsibility that we don’t take lightly. We are grateful for the state’s support in this critical endeavor to improve the health and wellness of West Virginians throughout the state through innovative care and a robust social health network.”

In January, the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Medical Services (BMS), the state agency responsible for the administration of West Virginia's Medicaid program, approved HHO WV’s application to be a managed care organization option for Medicaid and CHIP eligible West Virginians. The statewide contract runs for four years.

Led by the West Virginia DoHS and BMS, the state recently completed a comprehensive onboarding review of HHO WV. The onboarding review included a detailed exploration of policies, procedures, systems, member services and marketing.

“Readiness review was among the most important periods of our young life,” Landers said, speaking for HHO WV. “We put everything we have into it to ensure full compliance with BMS standards. Nothing is more important to us than compliance and quality. We want to set the quality benchmark for state MCOs.”

Workforce size at HHO WV will be determined by member enrollment levels. The organization will adhere to proven staff ratios to ensure the best experience for both members and staff. Open positions and application process can be found at wv.highmarkhealthoptions.com.

“This line of business will be serviced in West Virginia by West Virginians,” Landers said. “Our West Virginia workforce strategy prioritizes hiring staff located in and working from West Virginia.”

Highmark Health Options West Virginia's direct investment in the state extends beyond workforce opportunities. Through the extension of a program that’s demonstrated good success in Pennsylvania, the MCO has built a growing social care network of local frontline nonprofits and community-based organizations — including Facing Hunger, Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute and Change, Inc. – that will address the foremost health-related social needs of its members and the communities where they live. Community organizations and nonprofits interested in learning more about the program and its benefits can contact HHOWV@highmark.com.

“We are well-prepared for success on day one with a comprehensive provider care network, mutually beneficial relationships with frontline nonprofits and community organizations that will address our members’ health-related social needs and having successfully completed a rigorous state onboarding process. We are energized and ready to go,” Landers said.

West Virginians can now enroll in HHO WV. First-time Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries can enroll through wvpath.wv.gov, calling 1-877-716-1212 or visiting their local DoHS office. Current beneficiaries interested in switching to HHO WV should visit mountainhealthtrust.com/enroll or call 1-800-449-8466.