MAXIMUS signs new contract with Maryland Health Benefit Exchange

MAXIMUS (NYSE: MMS), a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced that it has signed a new contract with the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) to operate the Consolidated Service Center, which includes call center, fulfillment and command center services. The five-year base contract is valued at approximately $36 million, started on June 3, 2013, and runs through December 31, 2017.

“The goal of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange is to make health insurance affordable and accessible for all Maryland residents, including the approximately 800,000 individuals who are currently uninsured”

Under the contract, MAXIMUS will operate the Consolidated Service Center for the MHBE for both the individual and SHOP marketplace for the Maryland Health Connection. The MHBE is a health insurance marketplace where Maryland consumers and small businesses have the opportunity to explore health insurance plans, compare rates, and determine their eligibility for tax credits, cost sharing reductions and public assistance programs, such as Medicaid and the Maryland Children's Health Program (MCHP). MAXIMUS will serve as the primary customer service center to all Maryland residents who use Maryland Health Connection to select their health coverage options, as well as for other state agencies and Navigators.

"The goal of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange is to make health insurance affordable and accessible for all Maryland residents, including the approximately 800,000 individuals who are currently uninsured," said Rebecca Pearce, Executive Director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. "The customer service center is a critical component of the consumer experience. We are confident in selecting MAXIMUS as our partner and their ability to deliver service that is knowledgeable, friendly and truly helpful for consumers."

"MAXIMUS has proven experience in providing customer contact operations to nearly 25 million state Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries across the country. The services we will provide for the MHBE are similar to those we currently offer as the enrollment broker for Maryland's Medicaid program. We look forward to assisting even more Marylanders to understand their health insurance options and choose the health plan that best meets their needs," commented Richard A. Montoni, Chief Executive Officer of MAXIMUS. "This latest contract award is part of our growing portfolio of work related to the Affordable Care Act, which includes our selection as the vendor of choice to support state health insurance marketplaces in Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Hawaii."