Health Department Issues Request for Information to Seek Input on Coordinating Medicaid Long-Term Care Services

Today, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals issued a Request for Information (RFI), seeking input and strategies to help the State Medicaid program more effectively coordinate long-term care services.

Earlier this year, DHH implemented Bayou Health, in which five health plans are responsible for coordinating care and enhancing access to medical services for recipients in their networks. While most Medicaid and LaCHIP recipients are part of Bayou Health, some groups were not part of this initiative and remain in the legacy Medicaid fee-for-service program. These groups include recipients who receive Medicaid long-term care supports and services.

Now, DHH is seeking input of how best to apply the same principles of care management and service coordination, which have been successful in Bayou Health, to long-term care supports and services. The RFI issued is soliciting creative, innovative and viable strategies that will assist Louisiana with restructuring the organization and delivery of these Medicaid services. The key objectives of restructuring are to:

• Improve quality of services and health outcomes;
• Decrease fragmentation and improve coordination of care;
• Create a system that utilizes proven and/or promising practices;
• Refocus the system in order to increase choice and provide more robust living options for those who need long-term care and their families; and
• Rebalance the system in order to meet the growing demand for services within the existing level of expenditures for the long-term supports and services population.

The official RFI and related resources are available at www.MakingMedicaidBetter.com. DHH is accepting responses to the RFI through Monday, Jan. 28.