Ohio has picked managed care organizations for new state Medicaid contracts that will provide health care services for more than 1.5 million poor and disabled people.
State officials say they selected Aetna Better Health of Ohio, CareSource, Meridian Health Plan, Paramount Advantage and United Healthcare Community Plan of Ohio.
Medicaid beneficiaries will be offered five managed care plan choices, up from the current two or three.
Ohio is also upping performance expectations in the contracts by linking a portion of each Medicaid managed care plan's payment to standards aimed at making people healthier.
The plans will also have to develop financial incentives for hospitals, doctors and other providers that are tied to improving quality and patients' health.
Enrollment in the plans begins in January.