Connecticut extends contract with ValueOptions to administer behavioral health services to young people

Under the renewal, ValueOptions®, the Administrative Services Organization for Connecticut, works closely with the state's Department of Children and Families and Department of Social Services.

"We're delighted to have the opportunity to continue to partner with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Social Services to serve HUSKY members in CT," said Lori Szczygiel, chief executive officer of the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership.

ValueOptions® has been the ASO in Connecticut since January 2006, and the new contract extends the arrangement through 2013.

Szczygiel said ValueOptions® provides utilization management, quality management, provider analysis and reporting, clinical and peer support as well as other administrative services for the HUSKY A and HUSKY B plans, as well as to a limited benefit population within the Department of Children and Families.

ValueOptions® has managed Connecticut's investment in community-based services while decreasing reliance on inpatient and residential levels of care. Outcomes to date include:

• 60% decrease in time children are delayed in Emergency Departments awaiting a psychiatric service,
• a 64% decrease in the number of days that children are delayed on inpatient psychiatric units awaiting a community resource,
• a  23% decrease in referrals to residential services, and
• a 100% increase in use of home-based community services

"These results show that by working effectively with providers, efficient management of the state's resources can lead to very positive outcomes for the individuals we serve – namely, more individuals receiving services within their communities.  ValueOptions®, its State Partners and the provider community are working together to ensure individuals get the right care in the right location at the right time, resulting in improved outcomes," Szczygiel said. "It's very exciting to be part of such large system reform."