LITTLE ROCK — A legislative panel on Wednesday cleared the way for the state Department of Human Services to create a Web portal for collecting information from doctors as part of the state’s overhaul of its health care payment system.
The Rules and Regulations Subcommittee of the state Legislative Council gave a favorable review to a proposed rule calling for creation of the portal. The subcommittee’s action completes the legislative review process for the rule, which previously was reviewed by the House and Senate public health committees.
State Medicaid Director Andy Allison told the panel that health care providers will use the portal to submit information about the care they provide in certain targeted treatment areas and the results of that care.
The information will aid state officials in developing a new payment system in which providers are paid based on outcomes instead of being paid for every service they provide, he said.
The new system “will give them an opportunity to get rewarded for doing the right thing,” he said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Participation in the portal will be voluntary and the medical information will be kept secure, Allison said.
Rep. Les “Skip” Carnine, R-Rogers, asked Allison if there was any risk that the overhaul would result in reduced care. Allison said it would not.
“For the first time (we will) introduce a reward and an incentive for the best care, for evidence-based care, and that’s to improve efficiency and to improve quality,” Allison said.
Rep. Kim Hammer, R-Benton, asked what would happen if some doctors refused to participate in Medicaid in order to avoid participating in the payment reforms.
Allison acknowledged that there is a great deal of uncertainty about the initiative, but he said officials will be reaching out to providers so they will understand the changes “and hopefully find them attractive.”
The state is trying to reduce the burden on its Medicaid program, which is expected to face a shortfall of between $250 million and $400 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2013.
Officials hope to begin implementing the first reforms in October. The initial target areas of treatment are upper respiratory infections, prenatal care, congestive heart failure, hip and knee replacements and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Payment reforms in another target area, developmental disabilities, will be implemented later, Allison said.