with a paper-based system or looking to optimize your current EHR system — to meaningful use to qualify for the federal EHR incentives. The Texas RECs under- stand the unique challenges physicians face and will work with you to fully real- ize the benefits of EHRs in improving ef- ficiencies and patient care. They serve as a direct pipeline to the national program with HIT adoption. Primary care physicians qualify for a grant that lowers the annual price of services to $300 per physician. Federal incentives for consulting and EHR use are unprecedented and will not last long. Visit TMA’s REC Resource Center at
www.texmed.org/REC/ to learn more about the Texas RECs, available incen- tives, REC and incentive eligibility, and meaningful use.
Still have a question? Contact the TMA Health Information Technol- ogy helpline at (800) 880-5720 or email
HIT@texmed.org.
HHSC chooses Medicaid HMOs
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has tentatively se- lected health plans for the HHSC Medic- aid STAR, STAR+PLUS, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) man- aged care program for current and new HMO service areas. HHSC is negotiating contracts with the plans. The new con- tracts take effect in March 2012. The service areas and health plans
are:
• Bexar: STAR-Aetna, Community First, Superior Healthplan Network; STAR+PLUS-Amerigroup, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Superior Health- plan Network; CHIP-Aetna, Superior Healthplan Network, Community First.
• Dallas: STAR-Parkland Community Health Plans, Amerigroup, Molina Healthcare of Texas; STAR+PLUS; CHIP-Amerigroup, Parkland Commu- nity Health Plans, Molina Healthcare of Texas.
• El Paso: STAR-El Paso First, Superior 14 TEXAS MEDICINE October 2011
Healthplan Network, Molina Health- care of Texas; STAR+PLUS-Molina Healthcare of Texas, Amerigroup, CHIP-El Paso First, Superior Health- plan Network (STAR+PLUS model will begin March 2012)
• Harris: STAR-Amerigroup, Texas Chil- dren’s, Community Health, Molina Healthcare of Texas, United Health- care Community Plan; STAR+PLUS- Molina Healthcare of Texas, Ameri- group, United Healthcare Community Plan; CHIP-Amerigroup, Community Health, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Texas Children’s, United Healthcare Community Plan.
• Jefferson (new service area was ef- fective Sept. 1): STAR-Amerigroup, Texas Children’s, Community Health, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Unit- ed Healthcare Community Plan; STAR+PLUS-Amerigroup, Molina Healthcare of Texas, United Health- care Community Plan; CHIP-Ameri- group, Community Health, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Texas Children’s, United Healthcare Community Plan.
• Lubbock: STAR-Superior Healthplan Network, FirstCare, Amerigroup; STAR+PLUS, Amerigroup, Supe- rior Healthplan Network; CHIP- FirstCare, Superior Healthplan Net- work (STAR+PLUS model to begin March 2012)
• Nueces: STAR-Superior Healthplan Network, Driscoll Children’s, Chris- tus; STAR+PLUS-Superior Health- plan Network, United Healthcare Community Plan; CHIP-Driscoll Chil- dren’s, Superior Healthplan Network, Christus
• Tarrant: STAR-Amerigroup, Aetna, Cook Children’s; STAR+PLUS; CHIP- Aetna, Amerigroup, Cook Children’s
• Travis: STAR-Amerigroup, Supe- rior Healthplan Network, Seton; STAR+PLUS-Amerigroup, United Healthcare Community Plan; CHIP- Seton, Superior Healthplan Network, Amerigroup
New Medicaid HMO service areas Beginning in March 2012, HHSC will eliminate the Primary Care Case Man- agement (PCCM) model in favor of the
HMO model. HHSC is responding to cost-containment recommendations ap- proved by the Texas Legislature. TMA is developing a webinar on the Medicaid HMO changes. It is tentatively planned for October.
Hidalgo STAR-United Healthcare Community Plan, Superior Healthplan Network, Mo- lina Healthcare of Texas, Driscoll Chil- dren’s; STAR+PLUS-Molina Healthcare of Texas, Superior Healthplan Network, Health Spring; CHIP
Medicaid rural service areas
• West Texas: STAR-Amerigroup, Supe- rior Healthplan Network, First Care; STAR+PLUS; CHIP
• Central Texas: STAR-Amerigroup, Su- perior Healthplan Network, Scott & White; STAR+PLUS; CHIP
• Northeast Texas: STAR-Amerigroup, Superior Healthplan Network; STAR+PLUS; CHIP
Timeline • Sept. 1, 2011: Expansion of HMO model to counties contiguous to cur- rent service areas
• March 1, 2012: Conversion of PCCM to HMO model in all remaining rural and South Texas counties
• March 1, 2012: Expansion of STAR+PLUS HMO model to Lubbock and El Paso n
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