From: Howard I. Mark
[mailto:howard.mark1@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2008 8:27
PM
To: 'alerts@ctoralhealth.org'
Subject: RE: COHI Update:
Dental Carve-out ASO is Named
As this Update informs you, Marty Milkovic will be leaving
his position as COHI ED and moving to Benecare as one of their project managers.
Our loss is indeed their gain, but the assuaging part is that he will still be
in the state and available to COHI for consultations and collegial interchange.
Benecare and COHI have one major thing in common - seeing to it that the
children and other covered lives under the Husky program will be well-served and
dentally cared for in every way.
COHI plans to monitor Benecare's progress and recruitment
directives, and will assist in these efforts as much as possible, barring any
semblance of deferring to it. Having Marty there, knowing us as well as he
does,, and knowing how serious COHI is about its mission of "Oral Health
For All" in Connecticut, should make both the transition and the relationship a
comfortable one.
We will definitely miss his hands on and dedicated
involvement, but, then, life marches on and change must be expected. COHI is
commencing the search four a new ED with alacrity, but is in good hands with our
interim ED, Madeline McClave, whom many already have gotten to know through the
work she is already doing for COHI.
Good luck, Marty, we wish you well!
Sincerely,
Howard I. Mark, D.M.D., COHI President
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COHI Update News from the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative
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Oral Health for All
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August 4, 2008
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COHI Executive Director to Transition
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Dear Colleagues,
Together we achieved a great victory in the raising of dental reimbursement rates for HUSKY children. Because of that, the dental carve-out was created and the entire program has been redesigned, all toward the goal of improving the oral health of our HUSKY children. Many of you have worked hard over the years to see this achievement, and you should be proud of what you have done.
In that light, I am happy to announce that I will be making a transition from my position as Executive Director of the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI), into a new position as project director for BeneCare with primary responsibility for the care coordination and outreach of the dental carve-out. I am excited about continuing the momentum we have established and being able to work for the successful implementation of the effort.
After thirty years in the non-profit sector, It was not a change I made lightly. BeneCare is committed to improving the oral health of the people it serves and has an excellent reputation. Its proposal for implementation of the program is progressive and is what we all had in mind. I am honored to be able to work with such a good company to make the carve-out successful.
I will miss my relationship with COHI, but of course I will be working with many of you in my new position. Our and COHI's success, was dependent on many people, and I would like to thank a few. First, thank you to our exceptional Board of Directors. To Howie Mark most of all, a true servant-leader whose perseverance over more than a dozen years was the key factor. To Robin Knowles who brings an intelligent and insightful perspective to the table. To Jamey Bell, the heart and head behind the lawsuit that pushed this to conclusion. To Bob "Rob" Batch's quiet and insightful contributions that made a real difference. To Peggy Smith, Adele Gordon, Michael Goodman, Lorri Vilorio and Sally Ortega, whose contributions would take far more space that what's available. And to Grace Damio and John Shaw, past Board members who continue to be supportive. I would also like to thank our funders, particularly the Connecticut Health Foundation and Pat Baker who had the vision to support COHI and many other organizations that believed in better oral health for our children. There are many others and I apologize for not being able to thank everyone. Space is limited and because of delays in the negotiations and the 9/1/08 start date, my time frame has been extremely tight.
Madeline McClave, who has been a tireless worker for COHI over the past year and a half, will be the Interim Director and may be contacted at the COHI office or madelinem@ctoralhealth.org.
During the transition, while we set up the Connecticut BeneCare office, I can be reached at 203-437-0442 or marty@milkovic.org.
I look forward to continuing to work with you to make the dental carve-out a success.
Marty |
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BeneCare Named ASO
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Will Manage Dental Carve-out
The State Department of Social Services (DSS) has selected BeneCare Dental Plans (BeneCare) to negotiate a contract to become the Administrative Service Organization (ASO) for the State's Dental Carve-out. BeneCare would manage the program which will include current dental benefits for the State's HUSKY A, HUSKY B, Adult Medicaid (also called Fee-for-Service) and State Administered General Assistance (SAGA). Over 400,000 people will be in the program. 
BeneCare is currently one of the two remaining Dental Benefit Mangers in the present HUSKY system, which will transition into the Dental Carve-out on September 1, 2008. They also manage the current State's SAGA dental program. It is a family owned company with about thirty years of experience in providing dental benefits. Based in Philadelphia, it has been in Connecticut in both public and private programs for many years.
The design of the Carve-out, as described in its Request for Proposals (RFP), expands and improves the current dental programs. Fees for children were increased substantially, and adult fees were raised slightly. The RFP requires that the ASO maintain a Connecticut office including a patient call center and a team of Dental Health Care Specialists (DHCS) to perform care coordination, case management, community based outreach and oral health education. Under the old system the Dental Benefit Managers did not maintain a local office, had minimal staff in the state and provided little care coordination, case management and outreach.
Provider enrollment and claims payment will be performed by another State contractor, EDS, who will perform these functions for both the medical and dental parts of HUSKY, Medicaid and SAGA.
The challenges for implementation of the dental carve-out include the short time frame until the start date, the much lower adult rates and the need to recruit an adequate number of providers.
The announcement is the near end of a long process that began in a dozen years ago. Significant steps included the June 2007 legislation to raise children's HUSKY dental rates, final settlement of the lawsuit, design of the carve-out, the RFP and the ASO selection process. Implementation of the carve-out will begin on September 1, 2008 and full development of the new program is expected to take about a year. |
Dental Carve-out Seeking
Coordination and Outreach Staff |
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BeneCare will be hiring seven Dental Health Care Specialists (DHCS) who will be community-based outreach and oral health education coordinators. Each DHCS will be assigned to cover a region of the State. Responsibilities will include: - Facilitating Care Coordination for members with special needs:
- Establishing relationships with existing dental treatment programs;
- Building relationships with social service agencies, community groups, and other existing programs to further oral health education;
- Scheduling and administering oral health screenings;
- Providing Case Management for members needing in-depth attention and follow up;
- Assisting members in locating participating providers and making dental appointments;
- Helping members to understand the dental benefits available;
- Completing member appointment reminder calls;
- Assisting members in arranging transportation to dental appointments;
- Assisting members in arranging translation services as necessary.
Applicants should have these qualifications: - Experience with case management and outreach;
- Knowledge of the community;
- Good organizational skills;
- The ability to build strong relationships;
- Be able to work with a variety of people as part of a team;
- Computer literacy;
- Be able to work independently to achieve goals and objectives within defined time frames;
- Have a usable vehicle for work;
- The ability to communicate in a clear, concise, understandable manner, understand material, and provide instructions;
- Strong problem-solving skills.
BeneCare offers a competitive salary, health and dental benefits, paid time off and a positive work environment. For more information, or to submit a resume, contact marty@milkovic.org.
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