EDS scores $100 million Pa. Medicaid deal

Electronic Data Systems Corp. will provide a Web-based Medicaid and human services provider payment information system.

Electronic Data Systems Corp. has won a $100 million contract from Pennsylvania for a Web-based Medicaid and human services provider payment information system, the company announced Feb. 27.

Under the five and one-half year contract, EDS will perform administrative and operational processes that support Pennsylvania's Medicaid program and home- and community-based services.

EDS of Plano, Texas, will use its proprietary interChange Medicaid Management Information System to perform process management services, such as claims and financial processing, and provide enhanced program reporting on behalf of the state, company officials said.

The Medicaid program in Pennsylvania provides health care coverage to 1.4 million residents. The state's Medicaid beneficiaries are served by more than 60,000 health care professionals who participate in the program as care providers.

EDS has a history of supporting government-funded health care in Pennsylvania. The company has provided eligibility verification, pharmacy point-of-sale and related services for the state's Medicaid program.

On behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, EDS also administers the Vaccines for Children program by processing vaccine orders, educating health care providers, conducting quality assurance visits and measuring immunization coverage levels.

With the signing of the Pennsylvania contract, EDS now provides Medicaid administrative support services to 19 states, including California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Texas and Wisconsin.

Before the award, state technology officials managed and operated the Medicaid Management Information System, according to EDS.

"This is the first time the state of Pennsylvania has outsourced the technical administration of MMIS to an outside company," said Delbra Bristol, an EDS spokeswoman.