Dell Intros State Health IT ServicesDell Intros State Health IT Services

Dell has announced the launch of a new practice area that will offer technology and consulting services to states as they modernize their health IT infrastructure.

The Dell State Health Services practice will offer a variety of services, including readiness assessments and consulting services, as well as cost-effective technology and business solutions that address the new requirements that state health organizations must meet.

The State Health Services practice will be led by Melissa Boudreault, who previously served as director of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Care Health Plan. Under this state insurance exchange, nearly 200,000 residents receive coverage through the Health Connector, a system that links eligible Massachusetts residents with approved health plans. Dell is a principal technology solutions provider to the Massachusetts Health Connector.

This health insurance exchange served as a model for the federal healthcare reform law, which requires states to establish new exchanges to allow individuals and small businesses to search for and obtain healthcare insurance coverage that best meets their needs. The exchanges will also provide customer information regarding policy options and will help states manage enrollment, reporting, and billing.

"States are facing a variety of complex decisions as they seek to meet the requirements of healthcare reform legislation, while also addressing the specific needs of their constituents in an affordable and effective manner,” Boudreault said in a statement. "Dell is already providing consulting services to several states, and we look forward to putting our expertise in providing solutions to the nation's only state insurance exchange, as well as our experience supporting the healthcare and government industries, to work for other states."

Boudreault will also lead the State Health Services operations team, which will help states address increased demand as more constituents are enrolled in Medicaid and as states establish other healthcare programs such as health insurance exchanges, health information exchanges, co-operative insurance organizations, and consumer-related portals.

Through the State Health Services practice, Dell will provide technology and consulting services to address Medicaid expansion, infrastructure modernization, and business process efficiencies in billing and enrollment solutions, call center operations, and consumer-oriented communication platforms.