Request for Proposals: Washington Medicaid Integration Partnership

In April 2002, Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Secretary Dennis Braddock issued a directive for his Assistant Secretaries to establish the Washington Medicaid Integration Partnership (WMIP). The goals for Medicaid integration include improving client outcomes, cost-effectiveness of services and community partnerships.

The WMIP is a collaborative effort of the Medical Assistance (MAA), Aging and Disability Services (ADSA) and Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRSA) Administrations (HRSA includes the Mental Health Division and the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse). The mission of this group is to design and implement a new service delivery model that improves access to health care and reduces expenditures for the states aged and disabled clients.

The long-range vision for WMIP is that Washington's Medicaid clients will have a system of integrated health care that slows the progression of illness and disability, improves health outcomes, promotes client self-management, and lowers cost of care. DSHS intends to develop managed care arrangements that integrate the financing and delivery of medical care, mental health services, substance abuse treatment and long-term care. Initially, services authorized and provided by the Aging and Disability Services
Administration (ADSA), will NOT be included in the benefits for the WMIP. DSHS anticipates phasing a long-term-care and developmental disability services component into the plan after the first year of the project.