Amerigroup to expand managed-care service to Nevada

Posted to: Business

By Tom Shean
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 18, 2008

Amerigroup Corp., which last month launched a managed-care program in New Mexico, said Wednesday that it will expand to Nevada in February.

The Virginia Beach-based health insurer said it contracted to serve the beneficiaries of Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Plan in Las Vegas and Reno. Amerigroup said it initially will serve about 50,000 Nevada residents in the two programs.

Amerigroup bid to participate in Nevada's Medicaid and SCHIP programs in 2006. The company was approached by the state when one of two managed-care providers in Las Vegas and Reno withdrew earlier this year, said Kent Jenkins Jr., an Amerigroup spokesman.

Having a presence in Nevada "was something we had a long-standing interest in," he said.

The Nevada contract is scheduled to run through at least June 30, 2011.

Amerigroup's managed-care programs serve 1.7 million low-income individuals in 11 states, including Virginia.

Tom Shean, (757) 446-2379, tom.shean@pilotonline.com

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for following agreed-upon rules. Comments do not reflect the views or approval of The Virginian-Pilot or its Web sites. Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the "Report Violation" link below the comment to alert an editor. Repeat offenders will be denied automatic posting privileges.