Concerns About Complex Cases Prompt Delay in New Hampshire Medicaid Managed Care

The next phase of New Hampshire’s plan to bring managed care to the state’s Medicaid program will not go into effect on January 1, 2015, as planned, due in part to concerns about the ability to ensure smooth transitions for those with complex medical cases to receive uninterrupted care.

According to the Concord Monitor, New Hampshire Health and Human Services Commissioner Nick Toumpas announced the delay, after stating previously that the timeline was subject to change. A new timeline will be outlined November 6, 2014.

Like several other states moving to managed care for Medicaid, New Hampshire is doing so by contracting with companies to oversee coordination of healthcare for its Medicaid population. While this approach ultimately promises cost savings and better delivery of care, New Hampshire’s decision to go slowly comes after the lessons learned by other states that transitioned very quickly into Medicaid managed care, with some early disruptions.

Kentucky, for example, before its much-heralded unveiling of its state exchange, Kynect, to implement the Affordable Care Act, had a very rocky transition in Medicaid managed care, which caused the commonwealth to sever ties to one contractor after the first year.

According to the Monitor, news of the delay was met with applause at a meeting where it was announced.

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Step 2 in New Hampshire Medicaid Managed Care Implementation Postponed