La. taps ACS for healthcare programs

Affilated Computer Services Inc. has signed a $2.1 million contract amendment with Louisiana to provide care coordination and management solutions for two of the state's Medicaid programs, the company announced today.

Under the contract, ACS of Dallas will implement the state's new Personal Care Services Waiver program and enhance existing communications activities for CommunityCare recipients.

For the state's new personal services waiver program, ACS will provide a centralized call center to assist applicants with the eligibility determination process, which includes in-home assessments that will allow for appropriate services to be provided under the program.

The Personal Care Services Waiver program is managed by the Louisiana Bureau of Community Support and Services. The state designed the personal care program to provide home and community-based services to the elderly poor and citizens with disabilities. More than 100 providers are currently enrolled as program participants.

ACS will enhance existing communications activities for CommunityCare recipients through the development and distribution of new program outreach materials. The company also will expand the program hotline to accommodate increased participation in the statewide Primary Care Management Program.

The ACS hotline is intended to facilitate the assignment of recipients to a primary care provider. Through the call center, ACS also will manage the program's complaint and grievance process and provide referral assistance.

ACS, a provider of business process and information technology outsourcing solutions to commercial and government clients, has more than 40,000 employees and annual sales of $3.7 billion.