Austin – State Rep. Dianne White Delisi provided the following statement today regarding the announcement by the Health and Human Services Commission of a tentative award of a contract for the Integrated Care Management (ICM) pilot project:


"This announcement represents a major step forward in the efforts by the State of Texas to improve the quality of the health care offered to the aged, blind, and disabled population in the Medicaid program. This pilot program also has strong potential to make our state Medicaid dollars go further by providing better coordination of care to avoid costly emergency rooms and acute inpatient care. The tentative ICM model contact award also includes a number of important innovations for the future of health care in Texas. For example, the proposed contract calls for the development of an electronic medical records system, better use of evidence-based practices, and the integration of behavioral health disease management. I support these initiatives and will have legislation to further each of these items in the 80th Regular Session."



Text of January 26, 2007 HHSC announcement of the tentative ICM contract award:

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has announced the tentative award of the Integrated Care Management (ICM) contract, RFP # 529-06-0406, to Evercare of Texas, L.L.C. This award is contingent upon the successful negotiation and execution of a final contract.


The ICM model is authorized under House Bill 1771, 79th Regular Session, authored by Rep. Delisi and sponsored by Sen. Nelson. The legislation requires that HHSC utilize cost-effective models enhancing the care of people who are aged, blind or have disabilities and who currently are enrolled in Medicaid. The ICM program integrates acute and long-term care services and support through a fee-based coordinated care program.


Under the Integrated Care Management (ICM) program, Evercare will be the provider of health care coordination services for more than 80,000 people who are aged, blind or have disabilities and are enrolled in HHSC’s new ICM program in the Dallas and Tarrant service delivery areas. The ICM program will become effective on July 1, 2007, in 13 counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Parker, Rockwell, Tarrant and Wise.

  
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