DoD taps Maximus for Tricare monitoring

Maximus Inc. has won a $24.5 million contract from the Defense Department to provide quality monitoring services for the department's Tricare program, the company announced today.

The six-month contract includes five one-year options.

Under the contract, Maximus of Reston, Va., will provide an independent, impartial evaluation of the care provided to beneficiaries within the nation's military health system for Defense Department Health Affairs, the Tricare Management Agency, military hospitals and Tricare Management Agency regional offices.

Maximus and its subcontractor, Health Services Advisory Group of Phoenix, will review care provided by certain designated providers under the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan, seven current Tricare Management Agency managed care support contracts and the next generation of managed care support contractors.

Maximus Center for Health Care Dispute Resolution has rendered more than 130,000 determinations since it began providing external review in 1998. Reviews are provided in managed care, preferred provider organizations, indemnity and self-insured settings.

Maximus serves as an independent review organization in 27 states. The company also holds the largest single external review contract in the nation as the Medicare Management Independent Review Entity.

Maximus, a provider of program management, consulting and information technology services for state and local government, has more than 5,500 employees and annual sales of $487.3 million, according to Hoover's Online of Austin, Texas.