By OPEN MINDS Circle
The Vermont Medicaid program is preparing to launch a new program in 2025 to help behavioral health and home and community-based services (HCBS) provider organizations implement and use electronic health records (EHRs). On September 19, 2023, the Vermont Department of Health Access (DHA) released a request for proposals (RFP 03410-115-24) for this program seeking vendors to provide business supports for the target provider organization types. Proposals are due by October 20, 2023. The contract is slated to start December 1, 2023.
The program is part of the state’s Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 Demonstration Extension Approval, that was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 28, 2022. CMS approved the Global Commitment to Health demonstration to run from July 1, 2022, through December 31, 2027.
For this program, the selected vendors will provide a range business supports with funding through the waiver’s Medicaid Data Aggregation & Access Program (MDAAP). The MDAAP program will start in 2025, through which Vermont intends to use $14.9 million in Medicaid funding to help more than 275 Medicaid-enrolled provider organizations that deliver mental health services, addiction treatment, or long-term services and supports, purchase the EHRs and tools needed to capture and exchange consumer health information and use it to manage and improve population health. The goal is for the provider organizations have capacity to implement and use health information technology.
Through the RFP, the state seeks fixed price proposals to offer the following services to help provider organizations adopt and implement a new EHR system or connect or access the Vermont Health Information Exchange (VHIE):
- Program management services.
- Program outreach and enrollment services, including assistance in identifying eligible provider organizations and educating them on program goals, benefits, and eligibility requirements.
- Provider organization and practice needs and readiness assessments.
- Access to a vetted list of EHR vendors and HIT solutions capable of meeting program requirements.
- Assistance with selecting an EHR vendor, including assistance with contracting and negotiations.
- Assistance focused on provider organization submission of required attestation documentation, and guidance materials to be retained for audit support.
- Guidance and training on EHR implementation and upgrades, including helping the organizations install certified EHRs, such as those marketed by Netsmart or Credible, or “EHR Lites” such as Simple Practice, TherapyNotes, or MyClientsPlus.
- Customized practice specific assistance services based on program track and milestones.
- Individualized assistance based on provider inquiries and issues.
- Initial and ongoing user education services.
- Documentation of provider organization/practice participation status.
- Business analysis and coordination services for providers onboarding and connecting to the VHIE.
The RFP asked bidders to submit a price proposal, but did not state a maximum contract value. The state intends to select one or more vendors, and contracts from this RFP are anticipated to start December 1, 2023, and run for 16 months. The RFP did not note whether there were extension options.
Since December 2022, the state has been working with Public Consulting Group, LLC (PCG) to develop the Vermont MDAAP program design, and the MDAAP stakeholder evaluation analysis. PCG was selected via a procurement released in September 2022.
For more information, contact: State of Vermont Agency of Human Services, 280 State Drive, Center Building, Waterbury, Vermont 05676; 802-241-0440; Fax: 802-241-0450; Website: https://humanservices.vermont.gov/