This guide highlights key sections to help providers become familiar with Payment & Care Delivery Innovation (PCDI) changes and concepts.
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Payment & Care Delivery Innovation (PCDI) for Providers
Table of Contents
Provider communication and education
Over 1 million
MassHealth managed care eligible members
Overview
MassHealth is focused on strategies that bring awareness of PCDI changes to the provider community. The PCDI changes affect providers in a number of ways, including
- Network contracting choices
- Payments and accountability
- Administrative changes
- Changes for members
MassHealth communications are tailored to specific provider groups, including
- Primary care providers
- Hospitals
- Behavioral health providers
- Community Partners
- Specialists and other providers
MassHealth uses a variety of communication strategies and methods to share information with providers, including
| Resources and Information | Collaboration Strategies |
| Online resources and tool kits for providers | Work with ACOs and MCOs to provide consistent messaging |
| Enhanced EVS messaging | Work closely with provider associations |
| Provider bulletins | Message text (POSC) |
| MassHealth regulations |
Key Actions for Provider communication and education
MassHealth Eligibility Verification System (EVS)
Enhanced EVS for PCDI
Includes plan and contact information
MassHealth has enhanced the Eligibility Verification System (EVS) messages so providers know
-
Which type of health plan a member is enrolled in
- Who to contact for billing questions
EVS now has messages with contact information for behavioral health services for the member’s health plan.
Health plan options
Health plans
January 1, 2020, marks the third year that MassHealth’s PCDI initiative offers managed-care eligible members Accountable Care Organization (ACO) health plans in addition to re-procured managed care organizations (MCOs) plans and the Primary Care Clinician (PCC) Plan.
Managed care eligible members are
- Younger than age 65, without any third-party insurance coverage (including Medicare)
- Living in the community (not in a nursing facility)
- Enrolled in one of the following MassHealth coverage types:
- Standard
- CommonHealth
- CarePlus
- Family Assistance
Members who are not affected by the PCDI changes are those who receive MassHealth coverage through
- Fee-for-service
- One Care plans
- Senior Care Options (SCO) plans
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organizations
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)
An ACO is a provider-led health plan that holds participating providers financially accountable for both cost and quality of care for members. ACOs are composed of groups of primary care providers (PCPs) to whom members are attributed. In an ACO, the PCP and their team are responsible for working with the member and the ACO’s network of providers to help coordinate care and connect the member with available services and supports.
There are three types of ACOs.
- Accountable Care Partnership Plans
- Primary Care ACOs
- MCO-Administered ACOs
Accountable Care Partnership Plans
In this type of ACO, a network of PCPs works with just one MCO to create a full network that includes PCPs, specialists, behavioral health providers, and hospitals. PCPs plan and coordinate care to meet the needs of the member.
Primary Care ACOs
In this type of ACO, a network of PCPs has joined together into an ACO to provide integrated and coordinated care for members. The ACO contracts directly with MassHealth and uses the MassHealth provider network of specialists and hospitals. Members who enroll in a Primary Care ACO receive behavioral health services through the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP).
MCO-Administered ACOs
In this type of ACO, a network of PCPs may contract with one or multiple MCOs, and use the MCO provider networks to provide integrated and coordinated care for members. MCO-administered ACOs are not presented as an enrollment option for members because they are attributed through their relevant MCO.
MCO and PCC Plans
MassHealth continues to offer the Managed Care Organization (MCO) and Primary Care Clinician (PCC) health plans
Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)
MCOs are health plans run by insurance companies that provide care through their own provider network that includes PCPs, specialists, behavioral health providers, and hospitals. Care coordinators are employed by the MCO.
Primary Care Clinician (PCC) Plan
In the PCC Plan, primary care providers are called primary care clinicians (PCCs). The MassHealth network of PCCs, specialists, and hospitals delivers services. The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP) provides behavioral health services.
MassHealth contact information for ACO plans, MCO plans, and the PCC Plan
This document provides a list of the medical and behavioral health contact information and member ID card images for all MassHealth managed care health plans.
Additional Resources for MassHealth contact information for ACO plans, MCO plans, and the PCC Plan
Additional provider information
ACO Primary Care Exclusivity
If a primary care practice is participating in an ACO, its providers can only see MassHealth managed care eligible members who are enrolled in their ACO. A primary care practice can participate in only one ACO.
Referral Circles
Primary Care ACOs will use the MassHealth network for specialty services. They have the option of defining a Referral Circle, a subset of the MassHealth network for whom referral requirements are waived for members in the Primary Care ACO. If a member’s hospital or specialist is part of the Referral Circle of the member’s Primary Care ACO, the member will not need a referral to receive services from that hospital or specialist.
Accountable Care Partnership Plans and MCOs may have preferred networks within their overall networks that have modified authorization requirements. For more information on these potential arrangements, talk to the health plans you have contracted with.
Referrals
Referrals are required for certain specialty services in both the PCC Plan and Primary Care ACOs. The requirements for referrals for all other plans are subject to the requirements of the health plan in which the member is enrolled.
Specialists and Payment and Care Delivery Innovation
Specialists can be contracted with multiple health plans at the same time and can provide services to members in any of the health plans they are contracted with.
Additional Resources for Additional provider information
Information for PCPs, specialists, hospitals, and behavioral health providers
MassHealth has created fact sheets to help providers understand the PCDI changes. Providers can use these fact sheets as a quick desk reference. To view the facts sheets please click on the PCDI resources for providers link below.