Will HP Stop Medicaid Fraud In Child Welfare In Alabama?

HP Wins $135 Million Alabama Medicaid Contract

Technology upgrades will add e-prescribing, patient and provider web portals, and compliance with HIPAA regulations.

By Nicole Lewis
InformationWeek
August 27, 2010 11:07 AM

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Hewlett-Packard has announced an eight-year technology services contract worth $135 million to provide system upgrades, e-prescribing tools, and website development for the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The new contract extends HP's 30-year relationship with Alabama's Medicaid agency, which oversees the Medicaid program for more than 900,000 state residents each year. HP processed nearly 32 million Medicaid claims for Alabama healthcare providers in 2009, according to a statement HP released Tuesday.

As Alabama's fiscal agent, HP will significantly enhance and continue to manage the state's Medicaid management information system (MMIS). HP implemented interChange, the state's new MMIS, in 2008. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certified Alabama's interChange MMIS earlier this year.
Under the contract, Alabama's Medicaid officials hope HP's technology will enable the state to contain costs while meeting new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements, and to improve healthcare delivery, provider satisfaction, and recipient access to personal healthcare information. 

Will there be assurances to report suspected or known Medicaid fraud in child welfare to Alabama's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit<>/a?  Will there be public reports on the levels of Medicaid fraud in child welfare?  Stay tuned for the annual report.