CHCF: Issues RFP For Medi-Cal/Healthy Families Application Software
The California HealthCare Foundation today issued a "request for proposals" (RFP) for the development of software to automate and simplify the Medi-Cal/Healthy Families application process. The RFP, developed jointly with the Medi-Cal Policy Institute, seeks a program that will reduce paperwork, lower costs and streamline the process. The complexity of the two programs' application is often cited as a reason why many eligibles are going without coverage. CHCF President Mark Smith said, "We hope that using state-of-the-art technology to create an efficient application process can help to increase the enrollment of eligible children in the Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs." The automated application will be made available to organizations that provide application assistance, including on-site and satellite county eligibility workers, provider organizations, community-based nonprofit agencies, Head Start programs and school districts. The software will provide a simple interview process to assist a family in completing the enrollment form and accurately identifying its family size and income -- two areas where mistakes commonly occur in the application process. CHCF, with the support and cooperation of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board and the state Department of Health Services, has allocated $300,000 to develop the software. Sam Karp, chief information officer for CHCF, said, "An automated application can't correct all the problems with the current enrollment process, but we believe that automated enrollment will not only speed up and simplify the determination of an applicant's eligibility for the two programs, but also lower costs, and reduce error rates" (CHCF release, 10/28). Click here to view the RFP on the foundation's website.
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