THE VALUED VOICE

Wisconsin’s Medicaid program announced the release of a grant-funding opportunity for up to two hospitals/health systems to implement a two-year Intensive Care Coordination pilot program, designed to reduce inappropriate utilization of a hospital emergency department by Medicaid enrollees. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) indicates that $1.5 million will be available annually for the program, for a period of two years.

As prescribed in 2017 Wisconsin Act 279, a WHA legislative priority during the 2017-19 state biennial budget, hospitals and health systems would be eligible for between $250 to $1,000 per year per enrollee for care management services. In addition, hospitals may also be eligible for additional shared savings payments from the state for savings attributable to the care coordination intervention.

DHS has asked that interested hospitals submit a letter of intent to DHS by Dec. 20, although the agency has made clear that hospitals can still apply even if they have not submitted a letter of intent by that date. The application process will open on Jan. 17, 2020.

For more information about this program, contact WHA Senior Vice President of Government Relations Kyle O’Brien.