CMS Plan Invitation to Negotiate

January 30, 2018

The Department of Health has posted the Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) to procure a contract(s) for the Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan. Therefore, we have officially entered into the statutory blackout period as described in s.287.057(23), F.S., and we must not have any discussion relating to the scope, evaluation, or negotiation of those procurements with impacted vendors or other external stakeholders.

As stated in s.287.057(23), F.S., “Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, any Department staff or employee or officer of the executive or legislative branch concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing to the procurement officer or as provided in the solicitation documents. Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a response."

December 22, 2017 - January 30, 2018

While the Department of Health has not yet entered the statutory blackout period as described in s.287.057(23),F.S., due to the upcoming competitive procurement relating to the Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan, the Department of Health will not have any discussions relating to the scope, evaluation or negotiation of those procurements.  

As stated in s.287.057(23), F.S., “Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, any employee or officer of the executive or legislative branch concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing to the procurement officer or as provided in the solicitation documents. Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a response.”

Fall 2017 - January 30, 2018

As announced in the summer of 2017, the Department of Health (Department) intends to issue a new procurement for the Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan (CMS Plan) in early 2018 for January 2019 implementation. CMS Plan is transforming how it delivers care to children with medical complexity in its Medicaid and KidCare programs. Based on feedback received from stakeholders, the Department is developing a new model for the CMS Plan that will be reflected in its upcoming ITN. Goals for the new program design include improved outcomes and access for members, enhanced oversight of the program, streamlined administration for providers, and value-added provider contracting.

Summer 2017

The Department of Health’s Office of the Children’s Medical Service Managed Care Plan is committed to ensuring that all stakeholders are informed on the status of the future CMS service delivery model and making certain that there is transparency throughout this process.　The goal in developing a new service delivery model is to provide the best medical care and support for Florida’s children with special health care needs.

This communication is intended to update the public on the development of the new CMS Plan delivery system and advise providers and potential partners that the CMS Plan will issue a competitive procurement in the coming months. Through this procurement, CMS intends to identify a partner or a group of partners to implement an improved model for the CMS Plan to support its continued participation in the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program.

On July 14, 2017, AHCA released an ITN for the SMMC program re-procurement. CMS is continuing with its separate procurement process as outlined in the RFI and public meetings held earlier this year. Prospective partners will be permitted to respond to the future CMS procurement even if they are also responding to the AHCA ITN.

If you are a provider and have questions about your participation status in the CMS Plan provider network, please contact the CMS Plan Provider Relations Liaison in you area.  Note, the AHCA ITN process does not impact your current status as a CMS Plan provider.  We look forward to continuing to work together to improve the health of the children we serve.

Please continue to monitor the CMS Plan website for updates.

Additional Information:

The Department of Health’s Office of the Children’s Medical Service Managed Care Plan (CMS Plan) issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the purpose of planning the development of an improved pediatric health care payment and health service delivery model.　 Entities with direct experience in administering and delivering health services to medically complex children with special health care needs (CSHCN) were requested to provide input on the design of a draft model focused on improving the health of children and youth eligible for the CMS Plan. Responses to that RFI were due in May.

In addition, the Florida Department of Health recently held a series of statewide public meetings regarding the CMS Plan service delivery model.　 The Department, along with an Agency for Health Care Administration representative, facilitated discussions with CMS Plan families, providers, stakeholders and the general public on improved models for the Titles XIX, XXI or V funded delivery systems for Florida's medically complex children with special health care needs.

A summary report of the input received from CMS Plan families, providers and other interested stakeholders are avaliable on this webpage.