Today, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the intent to award contracts to Amerigroup Iowa and Molina Healthcare of Iowa. Iowa Total Care will also continue to serve Iowans in the Iowa Medicaid program.
Iowa Medicaid will work closely with Molina as they stand up their operations in Iowa and we will communicate with members and providers as this new option for health coverage becomes available.
For more than a year, Iowa Medicaid has worked to update the scope of the managed care program to reflect the priorities of improved outcomes, member-centric care, and cross-system coordination more accurately.
This announcement of the intent to award and the selection of these MCOs, alongside Iowa Total Care, will effectuate these changes.
This announcement continues the State’s work with Amerigroup and this third MCO will enhance choice for members and incent innovation in the Iowa Medicaid program. The agency’s approach to evaluating proposals included a multi-disciplinary team across the HHS agency.
Team members work closely with a number of meaningful HHS initiatives and having committed Managed Care partners are key in this work.
These initiatives include the Community Based Services Evaluation (CBSE), our maternal health strategy, better supporting foster care youth through Iowa Medicaid and continued administrative improvement for our Iowa Medicaid members and providers.
The way we serve individuals in the community and those who rely on long-term services and supports (LTSS) is something Iowa Medicaid is keenly focused on. Molina’s proposal demonstrated a deep understanding of this population and the challenges they face.
As we work to revamp our waivers through the CBSE, as well as our work to support community providers through rate increases and workforce training, it is critical that we have experienced partners with shared missions.
Having Molina working alongside Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care will position the state well to deliver on critical program improvements. “Over the past year, I have been working to push the Medicaid program into new territory.
We’re listening to our members and providers, making sure we hear and respond to their feedback. This is the guiding force of all we do and has proven to push us past the status quo,” said Iowa Medicaid Director Liz Matney.
“This is reflected in the changes to the new contracts, which prioritize program improvements and better outcomes for those we serve. I’m incredibly excited to have Molina join Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care as we work to deliver on our strategic goals."
“Since day one, Director Matney has focused on tangible improvements for the Medicaid program,” said Director Garcia. “She has charted out a vision to identify and address gaps, to focus on outcomes, to improve infrastructure and operations and to promote transparency.
Under Director Matney’s leadership the Iowa Medicaid program is really addressing the needs heard from the Iowans who rely on us. Making sure those we serve and those who advocate on their behalf are embedded in the conversation is the right thing to do and the work we’re doing reflects that.
” There are no immediate changes for Iowa Medicaid members. Iowa Medicaid members do not need to do anything at this time. Molina will begin providing services in July of 2023.
Between now and then Iowa Medicaid will work with Molina on their readiness review and Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care continue to provide services. We will communicate with Medicaid members and providers over the coming year as the new MCO choice becomes available.
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals for delivery of high-quality healthcare services for the Iowa Medicaid, Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, and Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki) programs.
You can find more information on RFP MED-23-005 here.
Original source can be found here.
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