New Contracts Focus on Improved Behavioral Health Outcomes Author: Dan Guy DHHS has developed new contracts with LME/MCOs in an effort to improve outcomes for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use disorder services. Aug. 3, 2017 — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently announced strengthened contracts with Local Management Care Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) seeking improved outcomes for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use disorder services. DHHS provides oversight of LME/MCOs that manage the care of individuals receiving mental health, intellectual/developmental disabilities and substance use disorder services in the state. The new contracts, effective July 1,, include performance benchmarks related to care coordination, follow-up care and housing. For the first time, they also include financial consequences. “Our first priority is to make sure that the individuals receiving care are getting the services and supports they need,” said DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “These new contracts hold each organization accountable to meeting key performance measures to ensure high-quality care.” Through monitoring of LME/MCO contract performance, DHHS will determine whether benchmarks are achieved. A corrective action plan will be developed for those not achieved, and LME/MCOs will face monthly assessments of $50,000 to $100,000 for each benchmark not met. Key performance measures include: Medical care coordination for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the last year; Follow-up within seven days after discharge from a hospital (including facility-based crisis services) or detox service; and Transitioning individuals into supportive housing. In addition, the new contracts require the LME/MCOs to submit complete and accurate encounter data. Encounter data are records that reflect health care services and expenditures paid to providers of those services. Encounter data is used for both rate setting and performance measurement. All LME/MCOs must meet a 95 percent acceptance rate of encounter data submitted to NCTracks, North Carolina’s system for paying covered health care services. This blog is related to: Newsletters
New Contracts Focus on Improved Behavioral Health Outcomes Author: Dan Guy DHHS has developed new contracts with LME/MCOs in an effort to improve outcomes for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use disorder services. Aug. 3, 2017 — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently announced strengthened contracts with Local Management Care Entities/Managed Care Organizations (LME/MCOs) seeking improved outcomes for mental health, developmental disabilities and substance use disorder services. DHHS provides oversight of LME/MCOs that manage the care of individuals receiving mental health, intellectual/developmental disabilities and substance use disorder services in the state. The new contracts, effective July 1,, include performance benchmarks related to care coordination, follow-up care and housing. For the first time, they also include financial consequences. “Our first priority is to make sure that the individuals receiving care are getting the services and supports they need,” said DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “These new contracts hold each organization accountable to meeting key performance measures to ensure high-quality care.” Through monitoring of LME/MCO contract performance, DHHS will determine whether benchmarks are achieved. A corrective action plan will be developed for those not achieved, and LME/MCOs will face monthly assessments of $50,000 to $100,000 for each benchmark not met. Key performance measures include: Medical care coordination for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the last year; Follow-up within seven days after discharge from a hospital (including facility-based crisis services) or detox service; and Transitioning individuals into supportive housing. In addition, the new contracts require the LME/MCOs to submit complete and accurate encounter data. Encounter data are records that reflect health care services and expenditures paid to providers of those services. Encounter data is used for both rate setting and performance measurement. All LME/MCOs must meet a 95 percent acceptance rate of encounter data submitted to NCTracks, North Carolina’s system for paying covered health care services. This blog is related to: Newsletters
