MedeAnalytics launches new resource center to optimize Medicaid managed care plans

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, today announced the launch of its Medicaid Managed Care Resource Center. In this era of tight budgets, many states are transitioning Medicaid populations to managed care in order to increase access, improve quality and reduce cost. Today nearly two-thirds of Medicaid beneficiaries are covered under a managed care arrangement. Health plans participating in Medicaid must cope with challenges that include managing the care of sicker populations and uncertain levels of state financing. MedeAnalytics created this resource center focused on optimizing healthcare quality and efficiency as an educational service for the health industry. The resource center will be continuously updated to reflect key legislative, regulatory and other developments.

"Medicaid managed care plans face special challenges to an extent not experienced by the commercial market," said Dan West, director of product marketing for MedeAnalytics. "Ample evidence shows that Medicaid beneficiaries tend to require more healthcare resources, experience poorer outcomes, and have shorter life expectancies. They also tend to choose higher-acuity and higher-cost settings to receive care. In this challenging, dynamic environment, Medicaid plans must constantly balance access to care with attempts to influence provider behavior." West noted that many Medicaid plans are turning to pay-for-performance or performance-based contracting, by which providers are able to earn incentive payments for meeting certain quality goals, such as reduced emergency room use by their patients.