Quality strategy focuses on Medicaid managed care

Got any thoughts on the quality of managed care available through Medicaid? HHSC is looking for public comments for a new quality strategy the agency is developing for managed care plans operating in the STAR and STAR+PLUS programs.

The quality strategy focuses on the years 2012 through 2016 and is part of the special terms and conditions of the sweeping Medicaid transformation waiver approved by the federal government last December. The quality strategy is to:

• Provide an overview of HHSC’s quality goals, objectives and strategy.
• Discuss the role of the external quality review organization in conducting quality assessment and improvement of Medicaid managed care through evidence-based care and quality measurement.
• Describe how HHSC will assess managed care organization s contractual requirements and compliance, including the quality and appropriateness of care and services delivered.
• Describe how HHSC will work to improve the quality of care.

A draft of the Texas Medicaid Managed Care Quality Strategy is available on the HHSC website. HHSC is accepting public comment through July 31.