Louisiana Department of Health Issues Request for Proposals for Medicaid Managed Care Organizations
February 25, 2019 – Louisiana Department of Health
The Louisiana Department of Health is requesting proposals (RFPs) from managed care companies for the state’s Medicaid managed care program. The state’s current Medicaid-managed care contracts will expire on Dec. 31, 2019 with the new contracts procured through this RFP beginning January 2020.
Currently, the state has contracts with five managed care plans to provide specific Medicaid benefits and services to eligible children and adults in Louisiana. The current contracts are with Aetna Better Health, AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana, Healthy Blue, Louisiana Healthcare Connections and United Healthcare Community Plan.
The Department designed its procurement to find the best health plan partners to achieve the “Triple Aim” of better care, better health and lower costs in the Medicaid managed care program.
This included focusing on improving the patient experience of care, including quality and patient satisfaction, improving the health of populations and managing costs within the program.
“Our managed care organizations are expected to demonstrate innovation. There should be an increased focus on health equity and social determinants of health,” said Dr. Rebekah Gee, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. “The managed care organizations will be expected to work with each enrollee to drive behavior change and encourage healthy choices.”
The Department increased requirements placed on managed care organizations in terms of access to and use of primary care and the integration of physical and behavioral health care services.
“It’s important to invest in primary care and to make primary care even more accessible for members. We’re looking to find ways to work together in communities to meet people where they are,” Gee said. “In addition to that, we are working together to integrate primary care and behavioral health services to improve overall care.”
More than 1.5 million Louisiana residents are enrolled in Healthy Louisiana, Medicaid’s managed care program.
View the Complete RFP
