The revamped system will go into effect March 1, 2012
Four companies have submitted bids to the Department of Health and Hospitals to oversee and coordinate the state's mental-health and substance-abuse services, including an estimated 2,500 children with behavioral problems who are considered at risk of needing institutional care.
The new Coordinated System of Care was developed by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration and authorized by the Legislature this spring as part of the omnibus budget bill. It's designed to provide better coordination between what administration officials describe as a disjointed panoply of programs that serve people with mental illness and substance abuse issues.
The restructuring also will allow the state to claim federal Medicaid reimbursement for services that have so far been financed strictly with state money.
The bidders are Value Options Louisiana; Cenpatico of Louisiana Inc;, Perform Care Behavioral Health Solutions, an AmeriHealth company; and Merit Health Insurance Company, an affiliate of Magellan Health Services, Inc. The health department is expected to announce the winning bidder on Sept. 1, and the revamped system will go into effect March 1, 2012.