Article archive / December 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 16. Source pages: 5.
The Advocate reported November 24 that the Jindal administration will not be renewing its contract with Magellan of Louisiana. Magellan came under fire from legislative audits about its failure to meet requirements, wrote Advocate reporter Marsha Shuler.
In a press release November 19 the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) announced that it plans to integrate specialized behavioral health services into the benefits coordinated by Bayou Health.
According to the announcement, DHH will integrate specialized behavioral health services into the benefits coordinated by Bayou Health plans for Medicaid recipients. Currently, these services are provided separately in a program called the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership. The Department will work with the five managed care organizations contracted to provide care to Louisiana's Medicaid recipients, as well as providers, recipients and stakeholders on the transition set for implementation on Dec. 1, 2015.
"Integrating behavioral health care into the acute medical care for Medicaid recipients is the best way for us to serve Louisiana residents. We have to care for the individual as a whole person rather than compartmentalizing types of services by the provider type," said DHH Office of Behavioral Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Rochelle Head-Dunham said. "With careful planning and by working closely with our providers and advocacy organizations, I believe that coordinating care for primary, acute and behavioral health care needs of our residents will help us improve outcomes."
The Advocate reported that the companies will be paid a “capitated” rate to provide care for about two thirds of Louisiana’s 1.4 Medicaid recipients.
The announcement also said that over the next few weeks, DHH will name an advisory group to partner state agencies, local governing entities, providers, advocates, and others to give ideas for the addition of behavioral health services to Bayou Health as things develop.
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