The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) responsible for administering the state’s Medicaid program is working with their Division of Medical Services (DMS) to redefine systems and business processes for the Arkansas Medicaid Program.
In 2011, DHS pursued the procurement for the Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS) and associated professional services through a multi-contract and multi-vendor approach. But due to industry responses and lessons learned from the procurement, DHS canceled the 2011 MMIS procurements and now has restarted the procurement process.
The plans are for DHS during the second quarter of 2012, to release three RFPs. The first RFP to be released will be the “Arkansas Medicaid Enterprise (AME) Core System and Services” response. The contractor will need to delivery components and the associated Medicaid operations professional services.
The second procurement will be the “AME Pharmacy System and Services” The contractor will need to deliver components for point of sale, pharmacy benefits management, and for the associated Medicaid pharmacy services.
The third RFP to be released will be for the “AME Data Warehouse” The contractor will need to deliver services for a Decision Support System, MARS, SURS, and for program integrity capabilities. In order to implement the AME, the DMS will need to procure new IT to replace the 25 year old MMIS, to modernize the business processes, and procure more effective professional services.
The target start date for all contracts is December 2012. Targets for final implementation will be in the 2015-2016 timeframe. So far, the information provided is tentative and may undergo changes prior to the actual release of the three RFPs. DMS welcomes written comments and questions on the procurement.
For more information, email Susan Rojas at Susan.Rojas@arkansas.gov. Go to www.dfa.arkansas.gov/offices/procurement/Documents/aamemis.pdf to read the revised procurement strategy.
