March 23, 2018      9:47 PM

Chair Schwertner calls for more changes to Medicaid contracts

Among other things, the chairman wants to see managed care contracts go out for price-bidding, which the health plans oppose. They support the current the current competitive bidding process

Medicaid’s transition from fee-for-service to managed care is now all but complete and Chairman Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, intends to focus next session on bigger service areas, fewer providers and possibly competitive bidding based on price.

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met this week to review the Health and Human Services Commission’s oversight of managed care contracts. HHSC already is exploring some of Sen. Schwertner’s proposals, which are intended to minimize the workload on the agency.

HHSC has had a significant cultural shift around Medicaid.

By Kimberly Reeves

Copyright March 23, 2018, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved