AOCOPM 2024 Midyear Educational Conference-346719

346719 - Article 16

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The Texas Correctional Managed Health Care (CMHC) system is a strategic partnership between the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Its mission is to ensure that TDCJ offenders receive timely access to constitutionally adequate healthcare while controlling costs effectively. This presentation by Dr. Lannette Linthicum outlines the origins, challenges, and outcomes of the CMHC system.<br /><br />The impetus for change in the TDCJ's healthcare approach was driven by the expansion of the criminal justice system and constrained state budgets, leading to the need for a managed care system. Factors such as rising healthcare costs, an increase in inmates with HIV/AIDS and TB, an aging prison population, recruitment difficulties, and declining patient bases at medical schools contributed to this shift. <br /><br />The CMHC operates under statutory authority, with a committee established by legislation passed in 1993. This committee consists of representatives from the TDCJ, UTMB, TTUHSC, as well as appointed physicians, mental health professionals, public members, and a non-voting Medicaid director. Their roles include clinical policy oversight, dispute resolution, quality control, utilization management, and monitoring of access to care and operational reviews.<br /><br />Partnering with medical schools has allowed TDCJ to share healthcare delivery risks, expand into underserved areas, and enhance the overall stature of its health programs. Key outcomes of this collaboration include improved access to care, enhanced quality of care, and controlled cost increases.<br /><br />Key lessons from this initiative emphasize the importance of mutual respect, joint planning, clear roles and responsibilities, tolerance for cultural differences, and shared goals among partners to achieve reform and improvement in correctional healthcare delivery.

Keywords

Texas Correctional Managed Health Care

TDCJ

University of Texas Medical Branch

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

healthcare access

managed care system

prison healthcare

cost control

partnership

correctional healthcare reform