Bureau for Medical Services Story Archives - Page 2 of 2

State Official: Medicaid Court Order to Cost State Millions

A state official says a court order regarding Medicaid managed care contracts will cost West Virginia millions of dollars.

Bureau for Medical Services acting commissioner Cindy Beane says the order also could affect delivery of services to some Medicaid recipients.

Beane says in a statement that the bureau and the Department of Health and Human Resources are weighing their legal options.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports that a Kanawha County judge granted a preliminary injunction on Tuesday barring the addition of mental health services to Medicaid contracts with health maintenance organizations without competitive bidding. The expanded coverage is set to begin July 1.

Five West Virginia taxpayers requested the injunction in an April petition. They argued that the contracts are illegal because the DHHR awarded them without competitive bids.

W.Va. Officials Launch Behavioral Health Program

West Virginia officials are launching an initiative to help Medicaid members with behavioral health diagnoses live healthier and happier lives.

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Medical Services said it launched the Health Homes initiative for behavioral health on July 1.

As part of the program, a team of professionals coordinates to help manage medical conditions and medications, remember doctor appointments and understand medical tests and results. Teams will also work with doctors, counselors and specialists to support recovery and prevent other illnesses or complications.

The program is available in Cabell, Kanawha, Mercer, Putnam, Raleigh and Wayne counties. Officials say those locations were selected because of the high rates of individuals who are already being treated for behavioral disorders.

Audit: W.Va. at Risk of Losing Medicaid Funds

Legislative auditors say West Virginia is at risk of losing millions of dollars in federal Medicaid funding because state hasn’t complied with a 2011 directive.

The directive requires states to suspend Medicaid payments to health care providers if fraud allegations are determined to be credible.

A legislative audit says Medicaid has paid at least $17.9 million to providers whose cases were referred to the state’s Medicaid Fraud Unit. The payments could be as a high as $211 million.

The audit was released Tuesday during legislative interim meetings.

Bureau for Medical Services counsel Alva Page told lawmakers that the bureau and auditors have different interpretations of the applicable portion of the Affordable Care Act.