Michigan launches nation's first Medicaid system on the cloud to reduce costs, improve health care delivery

LANSING, Mich., Oct. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan residents will benefit from improved health care delivery and reduced costs through Medicaid Management Information System technology, a first in the nation program that includes a partnership with another state.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has worked with the State of Illinois, the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, and CNSI to recently launch the second phase of the nation's first completely automated real-time and cloud-enabled system.

"It's important for Michigan to look for more and better ways to take advantage of technology to improve services for our residents," Gov. Rick Snyder said. "This is an innovative approach, allowing us to more efficiently share information and resources in real-time, helping residents get the healthcare they need."

The cloud solution creates savings for both states and the federal government, providing opportunities for Michigan and Illinois to share knowledge and resources, and leverage efficiencies to effectively implement federally mandated operating rules and compliance standards. The system adheres to the highest standards of data security ensuring the integrity of state healthcare data. 

"Moving to the cloud allows us to better serve our residents and improve health care delivery, all while reducing costs," MDHHS Director Nick Lyon said. "This unique initiative enhances our ability to maintain Medicaid systems, meet state and federal guidelines, and work with partners such as Illinois to create a multi-state platform that can meet the specific needs of our residents."

The multi-state governance feature of this MMIS cloud platform enables state governments to share the costs of developing and maintaining advanced Medicaid systems while still tailoring needs related to state specific regulations. The Illinois Michigan Program Alliance for Core Technology leverages the fully-operational, federally-certified and cloud-based Michigan MMIS designed by CNSI.

"The Department of Technology, Management and Budget is focused on providing technology services that enable Michigan's reinvention, and this partnership to support the business needs of MDHHS and the state of Illinois is another strong example of how we are doing just that," said David Behen, DTMB director and state chief information officer. "Sharing of government services is the right approach for taxpayers and you will continue to see the implementation of shared services across all levels of government."

This milestone realizes the vision of the intergovernmental agreement established in August 2013 between the two states to develop a new Medicaid as a Service platform that employs technology to reduce costs and improve service in the Medicaid industry.

Utilizing CNSI's innovative electronic Medicaid Incentive Payment Program, Provider Enrollment and Provider Credentialing Service solutions, IMPACT allows for provider collaboration through an online, secure and real-time system that maximizes efficiencies for the state's Medicaid systems.

"We are pleased to announce that our team's tireless commitment to this project during the past two years has resulted in a successful launch of the first-of-its-kind MMIS that creates significant measurable value for the MDHHS, the Illinois Michigan Program Alliance for Core Technology and the entire Medicaid population in both states," said CNSI Midwest Region Senior Vice President Sharif Hussein. "We value the opportunity to work with Michigan and Illinois to create such a groundbreaking system that models a national best practice for MMIS cloud implementation and delivers cost savings and improved health care."

SOURCE Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Related Links

http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs