2005 Rhode Island Code - § 40.1-21-4.4 — Medical assistance – Managed care system.

    (a) In order to ensure that adult persons who are developmentally disabled have access to an appropriate array and level of services, the department of mental health, retardation and hospitals, with the assistance of the department of human services, is authorized to plan and to implement a system of service delivery through a managed care system for developmentally disabled adults. Managed care is defined as a system that: consolidates all current state and federal funding streams for persons with developmental disabilities to maintain and expand the broad range of primary, preventive and continuing care community based service options under a single funding mechanism; integrates the single funding mechanism with quality service delivery; and provides a "managed care home" to assure appropriate services and deter unnecessary and inappropriate services.

   (b) The department of human services with the assistance of the department of mental health, retardation and hospitals, is authorized to seek any approval and/or waivers from the U.S. department of health and human services, health care financing administration, necessary to implement a mandatory managed care system for persons with developmental disabilities who are eligible for medical assistance under title XIX of the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq. Prior to submitting such request for approvals and/or waivers, the department shall submit them to the medical assistance advisory committee for comprehensive review and comment. Subsequent applications shall be submitted to the medical assistance advisory committee at least one month prior to submission. The medical assistance advisory committee, to the extent not prohibited by federal law or regulation, shall include legislative members. The department of mental health, retardation and hospitals, with the assistance of the department of human services, shall identify the initial populations and geographical areas where managed care shall begin. The department of health, in cooperation with the departments of human services and mental health, retardation and hospitals, shall annually develop and implement a survey and evaluation of all managed care programs to measure service outcomes and consumer satisfaction. These results shall be published and made available to the public.