AMHP currently serves 18 counties, but thanks to two separate awards by the Department of Public Welfare’s HealthChoices, its mandatory Medicaid managed care program for Medical Assistance recipients, AMHP will expand to 30 additional counties.

The first award, which will take effect Oct. 1, named AMHP one of four health plans chosen for the expanded “New West” zone.

The second award, which will take effect March 1, 2013, covers the expanded “New East” zone. AMHP will join Hospital Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania in a new venture called AmeriHealth Northeast LLC, which is one of three health plans that will be offered in that zone.

In both expansion areas, AMHP will provide covered physical health, dental and vision services. AmeriHealth Northeast LLC also will be based in Harrisburg, and Executive Director Marge Angello will lead both programs.

AMHP, a member of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies, currently serves more than 107,000 Medicaid recipients in Central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Hospital Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, headquartered in Wilkes-Barre, does business as Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania and offers health insurance products and administrative services to more than 540,000 individuals in 13 counties in northeastern and northcentral Pennsylvania.