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2011 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1500 (Conference Report)

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Proposed Changes to Care Coordination Language (language only)

Item 297 #21c

Item 297 #21c

Health And Human Resources
Medical Assistance Services, Department of

Language
Page 266, strike lines 31 through 56.
Page 267, strike lines 1 through 35, and insert:
"MMMM.1. The Department of Medical Assistance Services shall seek federal authority through the necessary waiver(s) and/or State Plan authorization under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to expand principles of care coordination to all geographic areas, populations, and services under programs administered by the department. The expansion of care coordination shall be based on the principles of shared financial risk such as shared savings, performance benchmarks or risk and improving the value of care delivered by measuring outcomes, enhancing quality, and monitoring expenditures.  The department shall engage stakeholders, including beneficiaries, advocates, providers, and health plans, during the development and implementation of the care coordination projects.  Implementation shall include specific requirements for data collection to ensure the ability to monitor utilization, quality of care, outcomes, costs, and cost savings. The department shall report by November 1 of each year to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees detailing implementation progress including, but not limited to, the number of individuals enrolled in care coordination, the geographic areas, populations and services affected and cost savings achieved.  Unless otherwise delineated, the department shall have authority to implement necessary changes upon federal approval and prior to the completion of any regulatory process undertaken in order to effect such change. The intent of this Item may be achieved through several steps, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. In fulfillment of this Item, the department may seek any necessary federal authority through amendment to the State Plans under Title XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act, and appropriate waivers to such, to expand the current managed care program, Medallion II, to the Roanoke/Alleghany area by January 1, 2012, and far Southwest Virginia by July 1, 2012.  The department shall have authority to promulgate emergency regulations to implement this amendment within 280 days or less from the enactment of this act.
b. In fulfillment of this Item, the department may seek federal authority through amendments to the State Plans under Title XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act, and appropriate waivers to such, to allow, on a pilot basis, foster care children, under the custody of the City of Richmond Department of Social Services, to be enrolled in Medicaid managed care (Medallion II) effective July 1, 2011. The department shall have the authority to promulgate emergency regulations to implement this amendment within 280 days or less from the enactment date of this act.
c. In fulfillment of this item, the department may seek federal authority to implement a
care coordination program for Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction (EDCD) waiver participants effective October 1, 2011. This service would be provided to adult EDCD waiver participants on a mandatory basis. The department shall have authority to promulgate emergency regulations to implement this amendment within 280 days or less from the enactment of this act.
d. In fulfillment of this item, the department may seek federal authority through amendments to the State Plan under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, and any necessary waivers, to allow individuals enrolled in Home and Community Based Care (HCBC) waivers to also be enrolled in contracted Medallion II managed care organizations for the purposes of receiving acute and medical care services effective January 1, 2012. The department shall have authority to promulgate emergency regulations to implement this amendment within 280 days or less from the enactment of this act.
e. In fulfillment of this item, the department and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, in collaboration with the Community Services Boards and in consultation with appropriate stakeholders, shall develop a blueprint for the development and implementation of a care coordination model for individuals in need of behavioral health services not currently provided through a managed care organization. The overall goal of the project is to improve the value of behavioral health services purchased by the Commonwealth of Virginia without compromising access to behavioral health services for vulnerable populations.  Targeted case management services will continue to be the responsibility of the Community Services Boards. The blueprint shall: (i) describe the steps for development and implementation of the program model(s) including funding, populations served, services provided, timeframe for program implementation, and education of clients and providers; (ii) set the criteria for medical necessity for community mental health rehabilitation services; and (iii) include the following principles:
1.  Improves value so that there is better access to care while improving equity.
2. Engages consumers as informed and responsible partners from enrollment to care delivery.
3. Provides consumer protections with respect to choice of providers and plans of care.
4. Improves satisfaction among providers and provides technical assistance and incentives for quality improvement.
5. Improves satisfaction among consumers by including consumer representatives on provider panels for the development of policy and planning decisions.
6. Improves quality, individual safety, health outcomes, and efficiency.
7. Develops direct linkages between medical and behavioral services in order to make it easier for consumers to obtain timely access to care and services, which could include up to full integration.
8. Builds upon current best practices in the delivery of behavioral health services.
9. Accounts for local circumstances and reflects familiarity with the community where services are provided.
10. Develops service capacity and a payment system that reduces the need for involuntary commitments and prevents default (or diversion) to state hospitals.
11. Reduces and improves the interface of vulnerable populations with local law enforcement, courts, jails, and detention centers.
12. Supports the responsibilities defined in the Code of Virginia relating to Community Services Boards and Behavioral Health Authorities.
13. Promotes availability of access to vital supports such as housing and supported employment.
14. Achieves cost savings through decreasing avoidable episodes of care and hospitalizations, strengthening the discharge planning process, improving adherence to medication regimens, and utilizing community alternatives to hospitalizations and institutionalization.
15. Simplifies the administration of acute psychiatric, community mental health rehabilitation, and medical health services for the coordinating entity, providers, and consumers.
16. Requires standardized data collection, outcome measures, customer satisfaction surveys, and reports to track costs, utilization of services, and outcomes. Performance data should be explicit, benchmarked, standardized, publicly available, and validated.  
17. Provides actionable data and feedback to providers.
18. In accordance with federal and state regulations, includes provisions for effective and timely grievances and appeals for consumers.
f. The department may seek the necessary waiver(s) and/or State Plan authorization under Titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to develop and implement a care coordination model, that is consistent with the principles in Paragraph e, for individuals in need of behavioral health services not currently provided through managed care to be effective July 1, 2012. This model may be applied to individuals on a mandatory basis. The department shall have authority to promulgate emergency regulations to implement this amendment within 280 days or less from the enactment date of this act.
g. The department may seek the necessary waiver(s) and/or State Plan authorization under Title XIX of the Social Security Act to develop and implement a care coordination model for individuals dually eligible for services under both Medicare and Medicaid to be effective April 1, 2012. The department shall have authority to implement necessary changes upon federal approval and prior to the completion of any regulatory process undertaken in order to effect such change."


Explanation
(This amendment replaces language included in the introduced budget related to the development and implementation of care coordination services in Medicaid. Language is included to further define what is meant by quality of care as it relates to care coordination. The amendment delays the expansion of Medallion II (i.e., Medicaid managed care) to the Roanoke/Alleghany area by six months, and to southwest Virginia by twelve months to provide additional time for networks to be developed. Budget language is modified related to care coordination for individuals in need of behavioral health services. The replacement language requires the development of a blueprint for behavioral health services in consultation with other stakeholders. The blueprint includes details on funding, populations served, services provided, time frame for program implementation, and education of clients and providers. In addition, the blueprint requires the inclusion of 18 principles for care coordination. Also, it ensures that the models developed and implemented do not result in more expensive and less appropriate placements.)