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SelectCare of Texas recently filed with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to offer Texas Plus, a new Medicare plan that will compete head-to-head in the dwindling pool of Medicare health maintenance organizations operating in the area.
According to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officials - formerly the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) - SelectCare has filed an application for a new type of Medicare plan to be offered in Harris, Fort Bend, Northern Brazoria and Northern Galveston counties, as well as in the Beaumont area.
The company's application is pending approval by CMS' central office in Baltimore.
Stephen Zeger, senior vice president and executive director of Select.Care of' Texas, says the new Medicare HMO will work with the Heritage Physician Network and the Memorial Hermann Hospital System.
The plan - which will not require members to pay a monthly premium will have a prescription drug benefit and will be available beginning Jan. 1, if approved by CMS.
Zeger says the plan will complement the company's current EncorEncore Medicare plan, which is a provider-sponsored plan and is similar to a preferred provider organization, or a PPO.
"We think...