State will host forums for Coordinated Care Study

— October 15, 2013

(Press release) The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is studying “coordinated” or “managed” care approaches that may benefit Wyoming Medicaid. Five public forums have been scheduled around the state to seek input for the effort.

“We view managed or coordinated care as any system of healthcare delivery that focuses on management of healthcare services with the intent to provide quality integrated and coordinated care at a lower cost,” said Meredith Asay, WDH Director’s Unit for Policy, Research and Evaluation administrator. “We’re most interested in approaches that will work well for Wyoming’s Medicaid enrollees and provider community, and with our state’s unique characteristics.”

Earlier this year the Wyoming Legislature enacted legislation requiring WDH to study the possible use of managed or coordinated models of care for some or all of the people enrolled in Wyoming Medicaid.

WDH has contracted with Health Management Associates (HMA) to help complete the study. Each forum will be an important opportunity for WDH and HMA to get feedback from Medicaid enrollees, providers and other stakeholders. HMA will facilitate the meetings.

Here’s the public forums schedule:

— October 21, 5-7 p.m., Cheyenne – Laramie Community College Room: CCI 129, 1400 E. College Drive

— October 22, 5-7 p.m., Casper – Casper Recreation Center, 1801 East 4th St

— October 23, 5-7p.m., Gillette – City of Gillette Community Room, 201 E. 5TH Street

— October 24, 1-3 p.m., Cody – Park County Public Library, Grizzly Room,1500 Heart Mountain Street

— October 25, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Green River – Green River Center, Room 211, #1 College Way

Those interested in the study but unable to attend a public forum may offer input via email. Send comments to coordinatedcarestudy@healthmanagement.com. Comments will be accepted through November 5. Commenters will not be identified in the study.