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Medicaid Glitch Continues

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI

cdolinski@tampatrib.com

Published: February 6, 2009

TALLAHASSEE - Medicaid officials don't expect their $250 million computer system to run trouble-free until summer.

That was the forecast from Medicaid administrator Alan Strowd, who acknowledged to a state Senate health care committee Thursday that technical glitches have created headaches for providers and beneficiaries since the system went online about seven months ago.

"I would expect it would be sometime in the summer that we're in a steady stage," said Strowd, chief of the Medicaid Contract Management bureau.

Florida hired Electronic Data Systems more than three years ago to develop and maintain the system for the state's $15 billion Medicaid program. Since the system debuted in the summer, beneficiaries have complained that they can't access the system and providers have had problems getting proper payments.

Strowd said the contractor might bring on additional staff. The state has requested that a consultant review the system and is conducting its own review.

Meanwhile, EDS is making technical fixes, and the state is making emergency payments to providers when necessary.

"I'm not looking for zero errors," said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville. "But you're saying it's going to be into the summer before we can expect our constituents to be able to get through on the call lines?"

Strowd said he expects incremental improvements between now and the summer.

Gaetz also raised the issue of Medicaid providers who have encountered billing problems.

He pointed to the example of the Hillsborough Achievement and Resource Center. The Tampa Tribune reported in January that the center, which serves the developmentally disabled, lost about $12,000 in one month because of a billing glitch.

"They live hand to mouth," Gaetz said. "They've got to meet payroll on Friday, and they've got disabled people relying on them. What are we doing to fix this from a provider standpoint?"

Strowd said that particular problem arose early in the fall, was fixed, and then re-emerged because of a computer update. "We've since made the fix," he said. "All of those claims will be reprocessed ... for that particular provider. If he's having difficulty with cash flow, we still have the option for the individual to make a request for emergency payment."

Gaetz said hospitals also are having problems with prior authorizations for treatment. Strowd said a technical fix will resolve that next week.

"I believe that we're at the point where we're past the hump," he said.

Reporter Lindsay Peterson contributed to this report. Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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