Medicaid Managed Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

B-270335
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Finally, the experts we consulted generally agreed with the accuracy and
comprehensiveness of our presentation of the issues. They also
emphasized that the transformation of existing state systems and
processes to an effective managed care program-especially one with
meaningful oversight mechanisms-requires great change accompanied by
continuous refinements and adaptations. Each state-with varying levels
of experience with managed care, resources, and in-house
expertise-understandably approaches this evolutionary process with
varying strategies and time frames. Even as states confront their many
challenges in implementing managed care, strong and consistent
accountability systems remain integral to their success In meeting the
needs of <strong>Medicaid</strong> beneficiaries. This perspective is more fully reflected in
the final report.
As arranged with your office, unless you announce its contents earlier, we
plan no further distribution of this report until 30 days after the date of
this letter. At that time, we will send copies of this report to the Secretary
of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of HCFA, state officials in
the four states we visited, appropriate congressional committees, and
other interested parties. We will also make copies available to others upon
request.
Please contact me on (202) 512-7114 or Kathryn G. Allen on (202) 512-7059
if you or your staff have any questions. Major contributors to this report
are listed in appendix Ill.
Sincerely yours.
William J. Scanlon
Director, Health Financing and
Systems Issues
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