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2015 Session

Budget Amendments - SB800 (Floor Approved)

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Inmate Health Care (language only)

Item 384 #1s

Item 384 #1s

Public Safety
Department of Corrections

Language
Page 342, following line 15, insert:
"P.1. The Department of Corrections shall develop and issue a Request for Proposals for the comprehensive management and provision of health care services for all inmates confined in DOC facilities statewide.  This RFP shall focus on identifying health care quality management models that use best practices and cost containment methods employed by prison health care management and Medicaid managed care organizations in delivering provider-managed and outcome-based comprehensive health care services.  These services shall include consolidated management and operational responsibility for delivering all primary and speciality care, nursing x-ray, dialysis, dental, medical supplies, laboratory services, pharmaceuticals, as well as all off-site care, case management and related services.  Specific information shall be sought on (1) determining how existing state-funded managed care networks can be leveraged; (2) identifying federal health care funding opportunities, including Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other funding sources; (3) identifying the state-of-the-art in care coordination, quality management, utilization review, audit, and fraud control; and (4) identifying innovative correctional health care management systems being used or developed in other states.  A report summarizing the responses to the Request for Proposals and estimating the potential long-term savings from the approaches identified in the responses shall be provided to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Directors of the Departments of Planning and Budget and Human Resources Management, and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees, by September 15, 2015."
2. The Department of Corrections shall cancel and reissue the Request for Proposals dated August 4, 2014, for the delivery of inmate health care.  The revised RFP shall provide that the contractor shall assume full financial risk for the payment of off-site (out-of-prison) inpatient as well as outpatient services, and claims processing and payment.  The benefit of any Medicaid or other third-party reimbursement for hospital or other services shall accrue to the contractor.  A report summarizing the results of the new Proposals shall be presented to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Directors of the Departments of Planning and Budget and Human Resources Management, and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by September 15, 2015.
3. The Department shall prepare a report on steps required to separate the Department from reliance on a private contractor as of July 1, 2016, for the delivery of inmate health care at multiple facilities, and to provide the same services internally using either state employees or individual contract medical personnel.  The Department of Human Resources Management and the Department of Planning and Budget shall provide technical assistance to the Department as needed.  In preparing this report, the Department shall assume that it shall have flexibility as needed to adjust salary schedules, work schedules, and other factors as needed in order to offer competitive compensation packages to recruit and retain qualified health care professionals.  A report on the costs and benefits of internal state operation of inmate health care services shall be presented to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, the Directors of the Departments of Planning and Budget and Human Resources Management, and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees by September 15, 2015."


Explanation
(This amendment directs the Department of Corrections to provide three reports concerning the provision of inmate health care. These reports would be available to the Governor and the General Assembly prior to a final decision by the department on extending the current interim contract for inmate health care. The first of the three reports would contain the preliminary results of a Request for Proposals for the comprehensive management of inmate health care statewide for all facilities for the department. The second report would contain the results of new Proposals to be submitted in response to a new RFP to replace the August 4, 2014 Request for Proposals for inmate health care at certain DOC state facilities. The third report would provide cost estimates for DOC to provide inmate health care internally without a private contractor.)