County’s long-term, in-home care to be privatized

Courtesy of Pinal County Health & Human Services 

Pinal County has been providing in-home assistance and skilled care to Pinal County’s elderly, disabled and needy individuals since the 1980s through Pinal/Gila Long Term Care and Horizon Home Care. 

The State of Arizona has determined that these functions, which include services provided through Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS, the state Medicaid program), will be privatized statewide.
 
Pinal County will cease providing these services effective Sept. 30. 

The state has awarded all contracts for these services to private corporations, affecting multiple counties, including Pinal and Gila. Bridgeway Health Solutions will be the state’s preferred provider for Pinal and Gila Counties. Bridgeway is a subsidiary of Centene Corporation of St. Louis, a publicly-traded company. According to the company’s website, it has been serving portions of Arizona since 2006.
 
“Our greatest focus now is to ensure that our clients receive continuity of care throughout this transition. We are meeting with Bridgeway officials to coordinate a smooth transition,” Lisa Garcia, Pinal County’s Assistant County Manager for Health & Human Services said.

“We also offer Bridgeway a pool of talented, caring and well-qualified individuals who should be considered when the company’s management makes its staffing decisions.” Bridgeway officials have agreed to hold a job fair for Pinal County workers as part of the transition.