As of April 2010, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is soliciting proposals from practices across the state for Medicaid health home pilots. The objectives of the request for proposals (RFP) “are to encourage innovation and assess the impact of varied models of health homes in:
- increasing access to primary care and specialty services for children receiving Medicaid benefits;
- improving the quality of primary care and specialty services for children enrolled in Texas Medicaid by increasing the number of enrolled children receiving recommended primary prevention services, proper management of chronic conditions and all needed specialty and social support services, including dental and behavioral health services;
- meeting the first two objectives in a cost-effective manner such that the innovations are sustainable over time and conducive to replication across the State of Texas;
- providing care in a manner that is patient/family-centered, population-based, coordinated, clinically managed, team-based and comprehensive.”
The state has dedicated $25 million to this Health Home Pilot Project, with pilots slated for launch in August 2010. Funding to practices will be made available for a period of two years. The RFP states that “Pilot projects that include a minimum of 5000 children enrolled in Medicaid under age 21 years are preferred.” The RFP selection process will also favor proposals that lend themselves to spread after the pilot concludes.
Targeted population: Medicaid children.
Medicaid Health Home Pilot Project RFP updates
