REMINDER: DHH Hosts Public Meetings to Answer Questions, Gather Input on Managed Long-Term Care Process

Friday, Feb. 21, 2014  |  Contact: Media & Communications (225) 342-1532, Email: dhhinfo@la.gov

BATON ROUGE, La - The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) reminds the public that it is hosting a series of public meetings next week to gather input about its proposal to transition people receiving long-term supports and services through the Medicaid program to a model of managed care.

Over the past decade, DHH has engaged stakeholders in a comprehensive effort to reform long-term supports and services (LTSS) by striking the appropriate balance between providing care in institutional and community settings, improving quality of care, expanding service options, and addressing financial sustainability. In December 2012, DHH issued a Request for Information seeking creative, innovative and viable strategies to move forward with its next phase of delivering coordinated care through the creation of a new managed long-term supports and services (MLTSS) program.

This week, more than 170 people signed on to the Department's Webinars about MLTSS to ask questions and learn about the process. DHH is compiling questions submitted during Webinars and will be posting these online in the coming weeks.

DHH has scheduled three public forum meetings around the state to give the public an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to the Department on MLTSS. The first will be in Alexandria, followed by Shreveport and New Orleans. The meetings will begin with a brief presentation by DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert, followed by 90 minutes of questions from the public.

DHH convened an advisory group of stakeholders in 2013 to discuss basic program design and how the Department can best meet people's needs through MLTSS. These stakeholders discussed research and information available from other states. Topic briefs and other information used in these advisory group meetings are posted on MakingMedicaidBetter.com/LongTermCare

DHH has posted a video of its presentation and the PowerPoint that will be used online at MakingMedicaidBetter.com/LongTermCare under "Public Meetings" so that someone who cannot attend a planned meeting can receive the information and submit questions or comments online.

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 

• 10:30 a.m. - Alexandria Public Forum
  Pinecrest Supports and Services Center, Gym
  100 Pinecrest Dr., Pineville, LA 71361
• 5:00 p.m. - Shreveport Public Forum
  Holy Angels Residential Facility, Gym
  10450 Ellerbe Road, Shreveport, LA 71106

Wednesday, February 26

• 12:30pm - New Orleans Public Forum
  Allied Health/Nursing School Building*
  Tiger Room #138
  1900 Gravier Street
  New Orleans, LA 70112

* PARKING - There are three options for parking, which are all located in close proximity to the building: 1) Paid public parking in the LSUHSC Roman Street Parking Garage, directly across from the building, 2) Metered street parking, and 3) a parking lot owned by St. Joseph Church, which is located diagonally across from the Allied Health/Nursing School Building.

PROVIDING FEEDBACK

People who cannot attend these meetings and who wish to provide feedback may do so via the "Submit a Comment" link on MakingMedicaidBetter.com/LongTermCare or by sending an email to LongTermCare@la.gov. DHH will take these comments into consideration when developing its program plan and Requests for Proposals.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's Twitter account and Facebook.

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