NH House Speaker Comments on Federal Approval of Medicaid Managed Care Program

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien today offered the following comments regarding news that the federal government has approved New Hampshire’s state plan amendment to implement managed care.  This allows the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to begin enrolling beneficiaries in managed care, which should begin around January 1.  Senate Bill 147, from 2011, required the state to begin managed care and the Executive Council approved the contracts for vendors in March.

House Speaker William O’Brien

“Managed care for Medicaid will mean savings for the hardworking taxpayers of New Hampshire and better care for those on Medicaid, as the focus will shift to prevention, and not simply treating people who get sick.  It’s truly unfortunate that the Obama administration chose to drag their feet with this approval process for what is a very straightforward Medicaid managed care plan.  Forty six other states use managed care for their Medicaid programs and there is no reason why the process needed to take this long in the Washington red tape factory.  We will soon find out just how much this delay cost our taxpayers.”

“I want to commend DHHS Commissioner Nick Toumpas and his staff for their extraordinary work to make this process work, despite the federal interference.  They are committed to delivering a better and financially healthier Medicaid program through managed care.”

Maggie Hassan’s Statement on the Federal Government Approving Medicaid Managed Care Plan

MANCHESTER, NH – Democratic candidate for Governor Maggie Hassan released the following statement today on the federal government approving the state’s Medicaid Managed Care plan.

“We have a responsibility to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and to be open to innovations that can save money. That also means ensuring that we are getting what we pay for – high-quality health care for the children, seniors and people with disabilities being helped through Medicaid. As Governor, I will issue by Executive Order a commission of consumers and financial and health care experts, to directly advise me on the state’s transition to Medicaid Managed Care.”

“A well-operated Medicaid Managed Care program can and should save money and allow New Hampshire to maintain important investments in health care. But financial savings cannot come at the expense of quality, accessible care. The transition schedule is ambitious, and the change will affect the lives and health care of thousands of New Hampshire citizens. As Governor, I will be directly involved in making sure that the transition to Medicaid Managed Care is done right, and that is working for taxpayers and people.”

Hassan announced plans for the Medicaid Managed Care Oversight Commission at a Children’s Alliance Forum in June.

Hassan Announces Plans for Greater Oversight, Consumer Input into Medicaid Managed Care Implementation

CONCORD, NH– Democratic candidate for Governor Maggie Hassan today announced plans for ensuring greater oversight and consumer involvement in the state’s transition to the already approved Medicaid managed care program. 

“We have a responsibility to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and to be open to innovations that can save money,” Hassan said. “That also means ensuring that we are getting what we pay for – high-quality health care for the children, seniors and people with disabilities being helped through Medicaid.” 

In remarks before the Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire today, Hassan announced that as Governor she will issue an Executive Order creating a commission of consumers and financial and health care experts, to directly advise her on the state’s transition to Medicaid Managed Care. 

“Most of us are in managed care plans ourselves and we know their benefits and their potential shortcomings,” Hassan said. “A well-operated Medicaid Managed Care program can and should save money and allow New Hampshire to maintain important investments in health care. But financial savings cannot come at the expense of quality, accessible care.”

The transition schedule is ambitious, Hassan said, and the change will affect the lives and health care of thousands of New Hampshire citizens. 

“As Governor, I will be directly involved in making sure that the transition to Medicaid Managed Care is done right, and that is working for taxpayers and people,” Hassan said. 

NH House Finance Committee to Hold Managed Care Meeting

CONCORD –  The House Finance Committee will hold a public meeting with the Department of Health and Human Services to discuss the implementation of managed care in the state’s Medicaid program, and its impact on the state budget.  This meeting will be held in the House Finance Committee room in LOB 210-211 at 1:00pm (or 30 minutes after the end of the session) on Thursday, May 17. 

Wednesday the Executive Council approved three vendors, and DHHS will now move forward with these vendors to put the managed care program in place.  Representatives of the three managed care companies are expected to be in attendance. The state budget assumes a savings of $15 million in FY 2013 as a result of managed care.

NH DHHS Issues Reminder to Potential Care Management Bidders Letters of Intent due October 26th

Concord, NH – The NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reminds

potential bidders for Medicaid Care Management Services that the deadline

for submitting a Letter of Intent to bid is Wednesday, October 26, 2011.

“We’re looking forward to hearing from companies that want to partner with

the Department in this significant change in how the Medicaid program

operates in the state,” said DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas.


As outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP), after submitting a Letter of

Intent, potential bidders may request clarification, additional information

or other changes to the RFP, and attend a bidders' conference. "Based on

the questions we receive, if we need to clarify any of the provisions in

the RFP, we will issue addenda, which will be posted on our website, in the

routine manner of the procurement process,” stated Toumpas.


“We have set forth a Request that offers the opportunity for innovation in

how the State can more effectively and efficiently provide services to

those who need them, in keeping with the goals of the new State law, SB

147," said Toumpas. The new law, passed by the Legislature and signed into

law by Governor John Lynch, seeks to bring value, quality, efficiency,

innovation and cost savings to the Medicaid program.


Information about the Care Management Program can be found at

www.dhhs.state.nh.us

The RFP is available at: http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/business/rfp/index.htm

The deadline for proposals is December 16, 2011.