Ohio Healthcare Waiver Platform
Smart Data partnered with Ohio’s largest healthcare plan provider to design and launch a custom platform for managing Medicaid homecare services.
Replacing a Costly Third-Party Tool With a Custom Solution
Client
Ohio's Largest Healthcare Plan Provider
Industry
Healthcare
Timeline
2020
Project Overview
Ohio’s Largest Healthcare Plan Provider is responsible for coordinating Medicaid services across the state. One key program is the Ohio Home Care Waiver, which helps match eligible Medicaid members with qualified home care providers. The organization had been relying on an expensive third-party tool to manage service requests, provider bids, and case tracking. When the system proved misaligned with internal processes and member experience goals, they turned to Smart Data to build a custom solution from the ground up.
Project Challenge
This project came with several significant constraints:
No work had started, and no contract was in place
Only four months remained before the state-mandated go-live
The existing tool was inflexible, costly, and poorly matched to operational workflows
Compliance with strict Medicaid and internal IT standards was required
The project had to launch with no delays permitted
Time was the most critical factor. There was zero margin for delay, and missing the deadline was not an option.
Project Approach
Smart Data assembled a dedicated onshore team including developers, quality assurance professionals, and a Scrum Master. Working side by side with the client’s product owner, internal developer, and subject matter experts, the team focused on:
Rapid requirement gathering with domain experts
Iterative development using Agile methodologies
Clear alignment with internal development and compliance standards
Frequent check-ins, sprint planning, and risk tracking to stay ahead of the deadline
The collaborative approach and proximity of the team enabled fast decisions, quick pivots, and accelerated progress.
Project Results
The custom homecare facilitation tool was deployed successfully, providing better flexibility, lower cost, and improved support for Medicaid members and providers.
Key Technologies
Key technologies included a custom web application architecture, secure handling of Medicaid data, an Agile delivery framework, both automated and manual QA testing, integrated bid and tracking functionality, and a backend built on the .NET stack with a SQL database.
