Family Care: Request for Proposal

State law requires Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to procure vendors for Family Care. Family Care is a Medicaid long-term care program for older adults and people with disabilities.

To find vendors, we work with the Bureau of Procurement and Contracting. They send requests for proposals (RFPs) to groups that want to get certified as managed care organizations (MCOs). Requests for proposals are the first step in the process of awarding contracts to MCOs, so they can give Family Care services.

How MCOs get certified for Family Care

MCOs must follow these steps to get certified: 

1. Respond to the request for proposals. MCOs receive an intent to certify letter from DHS.
2. Meet requirements for all federal and state statutes that apply, plus DHS Administrative Code sections. MCOs do this no later than 45 days before their contract’s effective date.
3. Contract with DHS to offer managed long-term care benefits. These are for certain groups of people. They also happen in a chosen geographic service region for the Family Care program. See Family Care Geographic Service Regions, P-01790 (PDF).

View other MCO resources.