Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Executive Office of Health and Human Services 
Division of Medical Assistance 
600 Washington Street 
Boston, MA  02111 
www.state.ma.us/dma 	

 MassHealth 
 Community Health Center 
 Bulletin 48 
 November 2001 

 TO: 	Community Health Centers Participating in MassHealth 
 
FROM: 	Wendy E. Warring, Commissioner 
 
 RE: 	Elimination of PCC Referral Requirement for Clinical Laboratory Tests 

Background 	Currently, when a primary care clinician (PCC) refers a plan member to a specialist who then orders clinical laboratory tests, the laboratory must include the member's PCC referral number on the MassHealth claim.  This requirement has been a problem for laboratories. 

Reduction of  	As part of the Division's efforts to reduce administrative burdens for  
Administrative 	MassHealth providers, the Division has reviewed the PCC referral policy  
Burden 	and has determined that PCC referrals will no longer be required for clinical laboratory services. 

Elimination of 	Effective for dates of service beginning December 1, 2001, the Division  
Referral  	will no longer require a PCC referral number on claims for payment of  
Requirement 	clinical laboratory services provided to MassHealth members enrolled in the PCC Plan. 

Questions 	If you have any questions about this bulletin, please contact the MassHealth Provider Services Department at 617-628-4141 or 1-800-325-5231.