Medicaid benefit recipients have
health care choice
Select Health of South Carolina, Inc. has
received approval to begin enrolling members in its First Choice health
plan in Charleston County. Families who receive Medicaid health coverage
may now voluntarily choose to enroll in First Choice for their health care.
ãFirst Choice will provide additional benefits not currently available to individuals covered by the traditional Medicaid program,ä said Mike Jernigan, president of Select Health. ãWe will also provide a medical home for all of our new members. Everyone deserves to have a family physician.
The Charleston-based Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) has been enrolling in the Columbia area since late last year and in Florence since February. Orangeburg, Calhoun and Darlington counties were recently added to the approved market for Select Health.
ãThe voluntary program will emphasize preventive care and is focused on improving access to primary care for children and adults. Governor Beasley and the S.C. Legislature are expanding health programs for children and we are happy to be working with the State of South Carolina to improve access to care with physicians in each community,ä Jernigan said.
In addition to expanded benefits, new members will also be able to have their health questions answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling a toll-free telephone number.