On April 25, 2013, Medicaid awarded a contract to Optum for the administration of Medicaid-reimbursed behavioral health managed care services, known as the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP). The contract term is for three years with two two-year extensions possible. The contract includes administration of outpatient community-based mental health services, substance use disorder services and case management (service coordination) services, collectively called “behavioral health services”.

Managed care is a way of helping ensure that each member in the plan receives the right services at the right time, based on the member’s healthcare needs.  This helps manage the overall costs for needed services.  Managed care also offers coordination of services to reduce duplication among multiple service providers and, overall, improves outcomes for members. Optum will utilize a network of providers that are effective in promoting and realizing the best outcomes possible for the individual members in the health plan. The IBHP provides for medically necessary mental health, substance use disorder, and case management services for children with serious emotional disturbance and adults with serious mental illness or serious and persistent mental illness as well as any adults or children who have symptoms of mental illness.

Optum has distributed network provider application letters and packets throughout the state of Idaho.  If you have not received network provider information, please contact Optum.  Optum is establishing its offices in Idaho at 205 E. Watertower in Meridian, Idaho.  For additional information you may visit their website at www.OptumIdaho.com or contact:

Reggie Hanley, Idaho Network Manager
Optum Behavioral Network Services
PO Box 25186
Santa Ana, CA 92799-5186
1 (714) 445-0723
Regina.hanley@optum.com

Idaho Medicaid and Optum are working hand in hand to implement a smooth transition to the new managed care system. This website will be updated regularly with specific information as it becomes available.