§9-2-9b Contract procedure for the Medicaid program.
§9-2-9b. Contract procedure for the Medicaid program.
(a) The secretary is authorized to execute a contract to implement professional health care, managed care, actuarial and health care-related monitoring, quality review/utilization, claims processing and independent professional consultant contracts for the Medicaid program.
(b) The provisions of article three, chapter five-a of this code do not apply to contracts set out in subsection (a) of this section: Provided, That the secretary shall comply with the requirements set forth in this section.
(c) The secretary shall develop procedures and requirements for competitive bidding and the awarding of contracts set out in subsection (a) of this section, which procedures and requirements shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Submitting public notice bids;
(2) The general terms and conditions for the contract;
(3) Awarding contracts;
(4) The description of the commodities and services required for the contract, stated with sufficient clarity to assure that there is a comprehensive understanding of the contract's scope and requirements; and
(5) Contract management procedures which will ensure the assessment of contractor performance and compliance with contract requirements on a regular basis as appropriate for the specific contract and no less frequently than on an annual basis for any contract awarded pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(d) The awarding of the contract may be based on:
(1) Best value;
(2) Low bid;
(3) Sole source; or
(4) Any other basis the secretary chooses to award or reject the bid: Provided, That the secretary shall document the basis of any decision made pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
(e) The secretary may employ the services of independent professional consultants to assist in preparing solicitations or for the evaluation of any responses to such solicitations: Provided, That the independent professional consultant, or member of his or her immediate family, or business with which he or she is associated may not have any interest in the profits or benefits of the contract for which he or she may participate in the preparation of the solicitation or in the evaluation of the response.
(f) The secretary may terminate any contract with thirty days' prior written notice.