Bookmark & ShareFor Immediate Release: 09/13/2011
Contact: Doug Porter, Director, Health Care Authority, 360-725-1040; Heidi Robbins Brown, Deputy Director, Health Care Authority 360-725-1040; Preston Cody, Assistant Director, Health Care Authority 360-725-1786
OLYMPIA – The Health Care Authority opened bidding today on a 2012 contract that will provide managed care for more than 700,000 Medicaid clients and Basic Health subscribers, establishing an innovative, person-centered and cost-effective health care delivery system that will dovetail with national health care reform in 2014.
The Request for Proposals issued today also leverages the state's purchasing power by consolidating the Medicaid managed care program called Healthy Options with the state's Basic Health Plan, which provides coverage for the working poor.
Other populations in this procurement include Healthy Options clients such as foster children and Social Security Income recipients.
"The procurement emphasizes better chronic care management and focuses on purchasing outcomes instead of volume," said Health Care Authority Director Doug Porter.
Selected managed care organizations will provide contracted services beginning July 1, 2012. Successful bidders must have provider networks in place that can meet the needs of the individuals in the service areas the bidders propose to serve throughout the 18-month contract.
This contract also features initiatives that will encourage innovation, cost savings, and better performance measurements.
This joint procurement project is one of many innovative HCA initiatives authorized by legislation (SSB5394 and ESSB5927) aimed at improving care, expanding service delivery options, and implementing payment reform and quality control features.
"We have taken steps to outline how to better manage chronic care conditions in a health home," said Preston Cody, Assistant Director, Health Care Services.
Originally scheduled for a release in July, the procurement planning period was extended into September to give the agency additional time to respond and analyze stakeholder feedback to the draft Request for Proposals distributed earlier this year.
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BACKGROUND
The Healthy Options program currently provides fully capitated, managed care services for approximately 700,000 Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), TANF-related Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) clients, which is about 60 percent of Washington's total Medicaid/CHIP population. HCA intends to add Medicaid clients who are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) but not Medicare to the Healthy Options population. Basic Health provides subsidized health coverage for approximately 37,000 low-income adults.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Joint Procurement website is at www.hca.wa.gov/procurement.html
The Request for Proposals is posted at www.hca.wa.gov/rfp.html
Jim Stevenson, HCA Communications, 360-725-1915 (pager: 360-971-4067)
Sharon Michael, HCA Communications, 360-923-2764
The Health Care Authority does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veteran’s status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.
NR 011-014
