Alabama Awards $135M Medicaid Management Contract to HP

Palo Alto, Calif.-based HP today announced a $135 million, eight-year technology services contract with the Alabama Medicaid Agency, enabling the state to contain costs while meeting new HIPAA requirements, and to improve healthcare delivery, provider satisfaction and recipient access to personal healthcare information.

The new contract extends HP's 30-year relationship with Alabama's Medicaid agency, which oversees the Medicaid program for more than 900,000 state residents each year. HP processed nearly 32 million Medicaid claims for Alabama healthcare providers in 2009.

As Alabama's fiscal agent, HP will significantly enhance and continue to manage the state's Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS). HP implemented interChange, the state's new MMIS, in 2008. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services certified Alabama's interChange MMIS earlier this year.

System enhancements are designed to help the agency meet federal HIPAA regulations. New features also include web-based mechanisms to streamline interaction with providers, improve prescription services and give Medicaid recipients convenient access to information.