Vermont Health Services Enterprise (HSE) Update

Agency of Human Services (AHS)


October 3, 2013

There are multiple activities underway as part of our Health Services Enterprise (HSE) and we have put together this update to keep you informed. The HSE Program is an integrated system of policies, business processes and information systems that together form Vermont’s strategic Health Care vision. Further information on HSE can be found at: http://dvha.vermont.gov/administration.

Be sure to follow on twitter and check our blog: AHS-DVHA blog (http://vermont-ahs-dvha.blogspot.com/) and twitter (@DVHAVermont).

The HSE consists of:
o Vermont Health Connect (VHC)
o Integrated Eligibility (IE) system
o Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) update project
o Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Health Information Technology (HIT)
(Clinical Public Health Information and Surveillance technologies)

The HSE Program will:
o Implement State and Federal Health Care legislation creating a 21st Century Health Care transformation
o Introduce advanced Information Technology that will ultimately extend across the State
o Enable a similar transformation for State Human Services programs while maximizing available
Federal funding
o Integrate to a single platform, the HSE projects are being deployed in an ‘Enterprise’ manner, grouping the necessary elements for each release, and maximizing reuse


Vermont continues to work closely with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and other States on a variety of issues and levels. As identified in CMS’ Seven Standards and Conditions, we need services and processes that are flexible, scalable and can be leveraged/shared across boundaries. These services and processes can be integrated in a variety of ways to address the needs of the systems we currently refer to as “VHC, IE, MMIS and HIE/HIT” but are all part of our Learning Health Network.

The following work-streams are underway within the Agency of Human Services (AHS) and Department of Information and Innovation (DII) with significant management by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA):


● Vermont Health Connect (VHC):
o Congratulations to VHC team on Go-Live day!
o Launching an insurance marketplace to bring better health coverage to more Vermonters
o Ensuring Vermonters have a seamless experience finding a health plan
o Vermonters with questions should contact VHC customer support at (855) 899-9600


● Vermont’s Integrated Eligibility (IE):
○ IE team is in negotiations with a vendor for project with target date for contract in place 11/2013
○ Important dates for IE
• 12/31/14 – Requested Go-live for priority Healthcare
• 1/1/2015 – Duals (Medicaid/Medicare) Effective date
• 12/31/15 – Requested Go-live for non-Healthcare
○ IE will build off of the HSE platform in use by VHC, leveraging connections and maximizing reuse

● Vermont’s Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS):
○ Gartner has been working with Vermont to support efforts to procure a new set of vendor deployed systems capable of delivering a Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) compliant with the Affordable Care Act, CMS architecture standards (MITA), and Vermont’s Act 48 vision. The following are RFP Release Schedule and Contract Award Targets:
• Pharmacy: November 2013 / May 2014 (DUALS)
• Care Management: November 2013 / April 2014
• Core Operations: April 2014 / October 2014
○ Link to MMIS webpage: http://dvha.vermont.gov/administration/mmis-procurement

● Vermont’s Health Information Exchange (HIE) and Health Information Technology (HIT)
o The VITL Grant has been approved for FY14
o Requirements discovery have been started with stakeholders for the development of the Statewide Clinical Registry RFP
o VITL continues to work on development of VITLAccess
o Blueprint Data Integrity Maintenance Plan Dashboard Reports are targeting Oct 31, 2013 for release
o The Vermont Strategic HIT Plan is in development for submittal to CMS

● State of Vermont RFPs can be viewed at:
○ http://www.vermontbidsystem.com/; and
○ http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php; and
○ http://bgs.vermont.gov/purchasing/bids


Any questions or comments can be addressed to: dvha.dhr@state.vt.us


Thank you.

VERMONT HEALTH CONNECT (VHC) is LIVE!!!

Statement from Mark Larson, Commissioner of the Department of Vermont Health Access

“I am pleased to report that Vermont Health Connect officially went live at 9 a.m. today, launching an insurance marketplace to bring better health coverage to more Vermonters. We have known all along that there will be bumps along the way, but we are working to identify any issues and resolve them quickly. As with many of the states that are launching marketplaces, we are experiencing high traffic and some access issues, but we are continuously improving our system to ensure Vermonters have a seamless experience finding a health plan. We are committed to providing Vermont’s small businesses and families with the information they need to make their health coverage decisions.

Vermonters can use the Vermont Health Connect system to compare their health plan options side-by-side by viewing the monthly health insurance premiums, co-pays, co-insurance and subsidies. Currently, information about deductibles and out-of-pocket limits is not included on the plan comparison webpage, but is available in the full plan descriptions on the website, in a separate comparison chart and can be accessed through the call center. This issue will be resolved shortly and the information will be added to the comparison page on the website soon. I am proud of our staff for their hard work to date, and I am confident that commitment will continue as Vermonters access the marketplace to make smart health coverage decisions over the course of the six month open-enrollment period.

Today marks a crucial first step in Vermont’s move to provide quality coverage, help small businesses and Vermonters afford insurance, and control the staggering increases in health care costs. Under the new program, Vermonters who do not have insurance through a job and Vermont’s small businesses and their employees, will use Vermont Health Connect to learn more about health plan options, find out if they are eligible for free or reduced-cost health coverage, and pick the best plan for themselves and their families. Today kicks-off the six month open enrollment period when Vermonters will be enrolling in new health plans. Many Vermonters will use the next couple of months to learn about and compare the new benefits available through the insurance marketplace. For Vermonters who want their plan to begin on January 1, they will have until December to pick the plan that best meets their 2014 needs.”

Update on Vermont's MMIS

Good afternoon.

With the MES Conference fast approaching, here’s a quick update regarding Vermont’s Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS) procurement efforts.  Vermont is working with Gartner to integrate MMIS program requirements that will inform more than one Request for Proposals (RFP) in support of the State’s vision for its next MMIS.  The number of RFPs and contracts are still being finalized but at a high level, the work-streams identified include:

·       Core MMIS operations

·       Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM)

·       Care Management

·       Program Integrity

Vermont is projecting to release the PBM RFP by late October/November 2013, the Care Management RFP by November/December 2013, and the Core MMIS Operations RFP by May 2014.

All RFPs will require vendors to comply with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Seven Standards and Conditions and CMS’ Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA) 3.0.   Vermont’s MMIS is an integral part of Vermont’s Health Services Enterprise (HSE) which leverages  the Oracle stack as its platform and the MMIS will need to be tightly integrated with this.  

Update on Vermont Health Services Enterprise (HSE) Activities

June, 2013

Thank you for your interest in Vermont and as you’re aware, there are a lot of activities underway as part of our Health Services Enterprise.  Due to the volume of work and the procurement activities underway, we are unable to meet all requests for meetings and/or information but we have put together this update to keep you informed of some of what’s been happening. 

Be sure to follow us on twitter and/or be sure to check our blog for information: AHS-DVHA blog (http://vermont-ahs-dvha.blogspot.com/) and twitter (@DVHAVermont).  You may share this information and links with any business partners that you wish. 

The following efforts are underway within the Agency of Human Services (AHS) with significant management by the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA):

●      Vermont’s Health Benefit Marketplace (Vermont Health Connect) (VHC):

○    Vermont contracted with CGI to implement Vermont Health Connect and meet Affordable Care Act requirements

●      Vermont’s Integrated Eligibility:

○    An RFP was released and the State is currently in review and final selection for the modernization of our eligibility and enrollment system

●      Vermont’s Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS):

○    Gartner has been working with Vermont to support our efforts to procure a new set of vendor deployed systems capable of delivering a Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) compliant with the Affordable Care Act, CMS architecture standards (MITA), and Vermont’s Act 48 vision.  The following are potential Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with anticipated release dates:

                                ■    3^rd calendar quarter:  RFP for MMIS support  systems (Chronic Care, Program Integrity)

                                ■    3^rd/4^th calendar quarter:  RFP for Core MMIS system to be in place and operational prior to Jan., 2017

●      Vermont continues to work closely with CMS and other States on a variety of issues and levels.  As identified in CMS’ Seven Standards and Conditions, we need services and processes that are flexible, scalable and can be leveraged/shared across boundaries.  These services and processes can be integrated in a variety of ways to address the needs of the systems we currently refer to as “HIX, IE and MMIS” but are all part of our Learning Health Network. 

●      State of Vermont RFPs can be viewed at:

○    http://www.vermontbidsystem.com/; and

○    http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php; and

○    http://bgs.vermont.gov/purchasing/bids

Should Vendors have information (such as a ‘white paper’, product information, etc.) showing highly efficient and effective solutions, you can submit to Joe Liscinsky at joseph.liscinsky@state.vt.us.

Thank you.

Vermont posts RFP for NAVIGATOR ORGANIZATION GRANTS

The mission of Vermont Health Connect is to provide all Vermonters with the knowledge and tools needed to compare and choose a quality, affordable and comprehensive health plan. Although many Vermonters will use the Vermont Health Connect website to independently find, compare, and self-enroll in Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) or public health programs, individuals will also have the option to access support on the phone through the call center, either facilitating their ability to self-enroll on the website or allowing them to complete the entire application process on the phone. Still, a large number of individuals will require in-person assistance to learn about Vermont Health Connect and apply for health coverage. Vermont Health Connect will provide this in-person assistance through its Navigator Program. “Navigators” are Vermonters who will be trained and certified to provide free in-person health coverage enrollment assistance. They will also play a key role in Vermont Health Connect’s outreach and education in communities across the state, working to make sure that both individuals and small businesses know what changes are coming and can access the tools and resources they need. In order to maximize Navigators’ impact and ensure accountability, Navigators will be managed by entities selected by Vermont Health Connect to be “Navigator Organizations.”
For more information please see:  http://www.vermontbusinessregistry.com/BidPreview.aspx?BidID=9802

Quick note on VT MMIS activities

Vermont staff would like to thank you and acknowledge your continued interest in Vermont.  

As part of our ongoing work to build out our Health Services Enterprise, we wanted to share with you our planning for an MMIS procurement.  Vermont is working on MMIS RFP(s) and will communicate release schedules in the coming weeks.    BE ADVISED, with all the work currently underway, the State is unable to meet all requests/demands for meetings so at this time, please refrain meeting requests. 

If you have questions, please submit them to:  dvha.dhr@state.vt.us.

Two New RFP Postings by DVHA!!

Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) and Additional Performance/Quality Measure Reporting RFP 03410-117-13: http://www.vermontbusinessregistry.com/BidPreview.aspx?BidID=9723

The Department of Vermont Health Access, hereinafter called DVHA, is seeking to establish a service agreement with a company which has obtained, and will maintain during the term of the agreement, a National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) certification to provide services and/or software license(s) for NCQA Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) measures. In addition, DVHA is interested in other quality/ performance measures. These include, but are not limited to: AHRQ-PQI, AMA-PCPI, CDC, CMS/ CMS-QMHAG, and HCA/TJC-PC. DVHA may expand deliverables in addition to the HEDIS measures or establish additional service agreements for a subset of these measures to fulfill two grants that were awarded.

Quality Performance Measures and Performance Improvement Projects 03410-118-13: http://www.vermontbusinessregistry.com/BidPreview.aspx?BidID=9724

The Department of Vermont Health Access (hereinafter called DVHA) is seeking to establish service agreements with one (or more) companies that can provide 1) validation of performance improvement projects and validation of performance measures and 2) training on analyzing and utilizing performance measures for quality improvement and technical assistance around developing and conducting performance improvement projects while following the protocols adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Protocol 7, Version 2.0).

Congratulations to Hunt Blair

DVHA Deputy Director, and Vermont State HIT Coordinator Hunt Blair recently accepted an assignment to go to Washington, DC and work at the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) as the Principal Advisor on State HIT-enabled Care Transformation under Dr. Farzad Mostashari, the National Coordinator of HIT.    Congratulations Hunt and best wishes! 

Further Information on VT IE RFP Pre-Proposal Conference #2

Agenda and Q&A Format for IE RFP Pre-Proposal Conference #2

We look forward to meeting with bidders in person and hearing your questions at the upcoming Integrated Eligibility (IE) RFP – Pre-Proposal Conference #2 scheduled for Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) Large Conference Room located at 312 Hurricane Lane in Williston, Vermont.

Let’s have a creative and collaborative conversation around how we can best accomplish this work together!

When you arrive, please sign in with your name, company, and email address. At that time, you will receive blank index cards. Take as many as you need to record your questions. After the speakers complete their presentations, we will collect the index cards with your questions and review them during a brief break.  Some questions will be answered after the break, and you will have the opportunity to ask follow up or additional questions. Any outstanding questions will be answered in writing and posted by Thursday, January 10, 2013.

The agenda for this conference will be as follows: 

• Welcome and opening remarks
• Addendum #5 changes
• Technical remarks
• Business remarks
•  Architectural remarks
• Break for question collection
• Q & A session
• Closing remarks

*****Please note that answers to questions are not considered final until they are answered and posted in writing.*****

Details on IE RFP Pre-Proposal Conference #2

Hope everyone's New Year's was safe and enjoyable.

In regard to the Integrated Eligibility (IE) RFP – Pre-Proposal Conference #2:  

This conference is taking place on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 from 1:00-3:00 in the Department of Vermont Health Access (DVHA) Large Conference Room, located at 312 Hurricane Lane, Williston, Vermont (Directions are listed at the end of this blog entry).   This is an "in-person" conference only.

In addition, we realize the scope of work included in this RFP (and its addenda)  is a challenging endeavor yet it will ultimately lead to the establishment of a robust, dynamic, and integrated Health Services Enterprise (HSE) that utilizes 21^st century technology in an efficient and effective manner to share data and information in a secure and timely fashion.   We encourage and look forward to learning about the creative ways that your solutions can integrate, utilize and in some cases be part of our infrastructure of shared services and components.  This is an exciting time of change and we are looking for vendors to present what sets them apart from other vendors and why we should partner with them to build out our HSE.    As part of Pre-Proposal Conference #2, bring your questions and your concerns and let’s share an open and candid discussion of how we will do this together.

Directions to 312 DVHA Office in Williston

Coming from North

I89 South take exit 12 and at the end of the ramp at the lights turn right.  Make the first left onto Hurricane Lane and Hurricane Lane will be the third driveway on the right (right after the foot bridge).   There will be a brick wall that will say 312 Hurricane Lane – proceed up the driveway to the left and continue around to the back of the building.  The primary DVHA entrance is around the back of the building with limited parking also available there. 

Additional Parking:  Additional Parking for DVHA meeting attendees is located directly across from the entrance to 312 Hurricane Lane to the left of building 289. There is handicapped parking available at the main entrance to DVHA in the rear of the building.

Coming from the South

I89 North and take exit 12.  At the end of the ramp turn left and go through the set of lights.  Make the first left onto Hurricane Lane and Hurricane Lane will be the third driveway on the right (right after the foot bridge).   There will be a brick wall that will say 312 Hurricane Lane – proceed up the driveway to the left and continue around to the back of the building.  The primary DVHA entrance is around the back of the building with limited parking also available there. 

Additional Parking:  Additional Parking for DVHA meeting attendees is located directly across from the entrance to 312 Hurricane Lane to the left of building 289. There is handicapped parking available at the main entrance to DVHA in the rear of the building.