Department of Community Health outlines PACE rollout, CMO procurement timeline and new state nurse‑aide proposals

Officials from the Department of Community Health told the Human Relations & Aging Committee that several long‑term care initiatives are underway, including an open care management organization (CMO) procurement that is under appeal, a planned PACE program, proposed licensure transfers to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), and development of state‑level nurse‑aide and medication‑aid programs.

Joe Hood, chief operating officer for the Department of Community Health, said the CMO procurement for Medicaid care management is in the initial intent‑to‑award stage and is under appeal. Until appeals and operational readiness are resolved, new CMO contracts will not be implemented. Hood said the appeal process could take as long as two years; if followed by two contract years before additional populations are moved, the department estimates a three‑to‑four year timeframe before elderly and waiver populations could shift into managed care, although exercising the option remains at the state’s discretion.

Hood outlined the immediate…