Improving access to care while generating program savings

In 1991, Louisiana had one of the lowest health screening rates (24%) for children in America. At that time, ACS was selected to provide services to KIDMED - Louisiana's EPSDT program established in concert with the Medicaid program. Through effective administration and outreach, ACS worked with the state to increase its child health screening rate to more than 90%. Louisiana now has one of the highest screening rates in the nation.

Success with KIDMED led the state to amend ACS' contract in 1994 to include the administration of the Louisiana Medicaid Primary Care Case Management (PCCM) program called CommunityCARE. This highly successful managed care program currently serves 770,000 Medicaid eligibles, and nearly 1,700 primary care physicians and other providers participate in the program. The program improves recipient and provider satisfaction, reduces emergency room utilization, and based on state estimates, saves the state $25 for every $1 spent on managed care.