The Federal Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program has recently been receiving considerable attention in the health care arena, and the month of May was no different. The program was originally designed as a way to stimulate states in their efforts to convey "meaningful use." The goal is for physicians to be eligible for positive payment incentives upon demonstrating meaningful use of EHR technology and performance during the 2011 to 2015 reporting period. The Center for Medicaid Services (CMS) recently awarded $9 million in federal funding to help four state Medicaid programs in their efforts to implement EHRs. These states include Louisiana ($1.85 million), Maryland ($1.37 million), Minnesota ($1.04 million) and New Jersey ($4.93 million).

Another health-related trend seen was states ramping up initiatives to upgrade existing Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS). On May 20, 2010, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), Office of Systems, Operations and Pharmacy (OSOP) released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for replacing its MMIS with web capabilities and fiscal agent services. The Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services (DMS) is also engaged in the replacement of its MMIS system, currently operated by Hewlett-Packard Company (HP). The department released a Request for Information (RFI) on May 7, 2010, and responses are due on June 7, 2010. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services released a RFP for State Medicaid Health Information Technology Plan Development (SMHP) on May 25, 2010. Proposals are due by June 29, 2010.

On the human services side, several states are engaged in planning efforts to modernize or replace their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Systems. Hawaii recently released an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Programming Support for the WIC System. The state is currently in planning efforts with Burger, Carroll for the WIC Computer Application Development project. INPUT is tracking the initiative here. On May 20, 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) held a vendor forum on the upcoming procurement for modernization of its EBT System. INPUT is currently tracking the project here. Other states that may upgrade their systems in the future are Missouri, Maine and California.

Additional noteworthy RFPs released this month include:

• Wisconsin- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development released a RFP on May 4, 2010 for Electronic Access Card (EAC) Services for Unemployment Insurance Payments. Proposals are due by June 11, 2010.
• Florida- The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation released a RFP on May 14, 2010 for Unemployment Compensation Claims and Benefits Information System Design, Development and Implementation. Proposals are due July 16, 2010.
• Oregon- The Oregon Department of Human Services, on behalf of the Oregon Health Care Authority, released a RFP for Comprehensive Services for Pharmacy Benefit Administration (PBA).

Award highlights for May include:

• Iowa- The Iowa Department of Human Services awarded Ingenix Public Sector Solutions in a base contract valued at $14,120,343 for the Medicaid Program Integrity Services initiative.
• Ohio- The Ohio Department of Administrative Services awarded ACS State and Local Solutions, Inc for the Child Care Time and Attendance Tracking System project.
• New York- The State University of New York (SUNY) awarded Epic Systems Corporation a $13 million contract for Practice Management System and Electronic Medical Records.

Significant upcoming projects include:

• Alabama- The Alabama Medicaid Agency released a RFI on May 17, 2010 for Health Care Delivery Options.
• Arizona- The Maricopa County of Arizona, Department of Correctional Health Services (CHS) may release a RFP for Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System services.
• Massachusetts- The University of Massachusetts may release a RFP for an Evidence Based Clinical Decision Support System for Non-Pharmacy Medicaid Prior Authorization.
• Texas- The Texas Department on Aging may release a RFP for a Single Service Approval System for DADS Long-Term Services and Supports.
• Oregon- The Oregon Department of Human Services may release a RFP for Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) on its Statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) System.

As for grant announcements in May, New Mexico was recognized as the first state to successfully meet all requirements for strategic and operational planning under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The state was approved for implementation funds and will receive a grant of $7 million.

INPUT's Take:

The month of May brought about many opportunities in both the health and social services realms. States still seem to be heavily involved in planning efforts for future system modernizations and replacements. As a result, RFP releases for actual system implementation may not be seen for several months or years, depending on the speed of current planning endeavors. Unfortunately, May did not produce as many state grant/award announcements as seen in previous months.