NEW CASTLE (Jan. 25, 2018) – In order to accelerate the implementation of reforms within Delaware’s health care delivery system, Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker announced today that DHSS has entered into a value-based purchasing care initiative through contracts in its Medicaid Managed Care Program. This initiative applies to all managed care organizations participating in the Delaware Medicaid program.
Beyond accelerating reforms, Secretary Walker said the purpose of the agreement is to transition the system away from traditional fee-for-service, volume-based care to a system that focuses on rewarding and incentivizing improved patient outcomes, value, quality improvements and reduced expenditures. DHSS seeks to align the incentives of the managed care organizations, providers and members through innovative value-based strategies.
“Through this historic initiative, we will reward our Medicaid managed care partners for embracing innovation and for providing our clients with high-quality care that focuses on improved outcomes and reduced expenditures,” Secretary Walker said. “Rather than paying solely for volume of care – hospital stays, tests and procedures, regardless of outcomes – we will pay for achieving optimal health for our Medicaid clients and give our MCO partners flexibility in meeting that goal.”
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