A group of developmentally disabled residents is taking the state to court over a proposed plan to transition coordination of their treatment to private companies.
The complaintwas filed just a day after the Department of Health and Human Services announced the state will officially launch Medicaid Managed Care on December 1st. Under the managed care model, three companies will effectively take over administration and coordination of medical services for Medicaid recipients.
The transition is expected to save the state $15 million annually.
But there’s been a long simmering debate whether services for the developmentally disabled should also be included in the system.
John MacIntosh represents the plaintiffs and claims the law exempts people with developmental disabilities, and any change could put them at risk.
“You shouldn’t fix something that’s not broke. The current system, it’s one of the highest rated in the country, and it is very economically efficient.”
MacIntosh says managed care companies don’t have the same level of experience working with this population as local service agencies.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Governor Hassan writes she “understands the concerns about the transition to managed care for people who experience disabilities, and she has established the Governor's Commission on Medicaid Care Management to bring together experts to help address these concerns before any changes go into place.”
The Attorney General’s office will review the lawsuit.
