CARE COUNSELING PILOT The Health Care Financing Administration intends to contract on a sole-source basis, with Aetna Life, for the purchase of services to conduct a Care Counseling Program for beneficiaries located in the State of Arizona, for one year plus one option year, beginning October 1, 1997. Aetna Life is currently performing this pilot effort under its Medicare Carrier contract with HCFA. Aetna carrier services are terminating services effective October 1, 1997. HCFA shall contract with Aetna Life for another year in order to be able to complete the assessment originally started under the carrier contract. The purpose of the Care Counseling Program is to assess whether counseling Medicare beneficiaries who have moderate severity asthma or moderate severity diabetes will improve their health status and reduce inappropriate utilization of health care services. This program is a voluntary, confidential ongoing telephonic outreach service, provided free of charge to beneficiaries with asthma or diabetes. Beneficiaries are identified as having moderate severity asthma or moderate severity diabetes, and then sent an invitation to participate in the program. If they choose to participate, they are assigned a nurse counselor (a registered nurse), who is available to 1) answer health care questions, 2) identify knowledge deficits, 3) provide focused education on asthma or diabetes, 4) encourage self-management skills, and 5) foster optimal beneficiary/provider interaction. Participant surveys, Medicare claims data, and the nurse counselors' documentation are being used to formally evaluate the effect of the program on participating beneficiaries. Potential sources may identify their interest and capability in response to the above requirements by submitting clear and convincing documentation that fully defines their capability to meet the established requirements. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interest expressed within 15 calendar days of publication of this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination not to compete this contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of HCFA. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Written requests should be submitted to HCFA, Office of Acquisition and Grants, ATTN: Linda M. Cumberland, 7500 Security Blvd., Bldg. C2-21-15, Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

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