Ohana Health receives contract to provide behavioral health services in Hawaii

News Release from WellCare

Nov 01, 2012 (Datamonitor via COMTEX) -- Ohana Health Plan, a health plan offered by WellCare Health Plans, Inc., has received a Hawaii statewide contract to case manage, authorize and facilitate the delivery of behavioral health services to Medicaid-eligible adults who have serious mental illnesses, and who are participants in the state's QUEST Expanded Access, or QExA, health program.

According to WellCare, the Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division, anticipates that services will start in early 2013. The contract term is expected to run through June 6, 2015, and would include a possible extension until June 30, 2018.

Based on currently available information, it is estimated that this Community Care Services program serves between 800 and 1,000 residents of Hawaii. 'Ohana, along with another managed care plan, currently provides other services to these members through the QExA program, said Ohana.

Ohana will assess the behavioral health needs of each Community Care Services member, and coordinate care with the member's case management team and behavioral health experts, added Ohana.

"With this award, 'Ohana will become the only health plan to serve the full range of Medicaid-eligible populations across all six islands in Hawaii," said Wendy Morriarty, president of 'Ohana Health Plan. "It will be an honor to serve one of our state's most fragile populations. As a provider of a full spectrum of health care services, we understand how critical it is to coordinate all aspects of our members' care, especially members with serious, chronic illnesses."

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