The Health Resources and Services Administration has funded the development of "Optional Purchasing Specifications: Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Services through Medicaid Managed Care" by the Center for Health Services Research and Policy at The George Washington University in consultation with the Resources for Cross Cultural Health Care. These Specifications are the first of its kind. No other document exists that provides a comprehensive approach to implementing cultural competence in Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs).
These Specifications provide model contract language for State Medicaid agencies to use as they develop contracts with MCOs. While the primary focus of the Specifications is on Medicaid and its beneficiaries, most of the language may also be useful to other purchasers, such as large employers and private purchasers of managed care products. These Specifications serve as technical assistance documents to provide purchasers with sufficient information to tailor contracts to create high-quality, cost-effective systems of care.
The document is organized into ten different sections with each addressing a particular aspect of cultural competence, such as providing interpreter services, training clinicians, collecting racial/ethnic data, and developing a comprehensive management strategy. It contains sample contract compliance measures in addition to illustrative language. The Specifications are in the last stages of development undergoing an exhaustive vetting process and will be completed in the Winter of 2000.
See www.gwu.edu/~chsrp
Learning Objectives: To teach the audience how to use the "Cultural Competence Purchasing Specifications"
Keywords: Medicaid Managed Care, Cultural Competency
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Health Resources and Services Administration and
The Center for Health Services Research and Policy at the George Washington University
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.