What care coordination activities does the CARES Program offer?
Providers who participate in CARES can:
- Help parents/guardians advocate for and get resources and services to meet the family’s needs.
- Maintain and coordinate relationships with a child’s medical providers. For example, they can coordinate between your child’s primary care provider and specialists.
- Coordinate with early intervention providers, school, and early childhood education providers.
- Help find resources to meet your child’s housing, food, and educational needs.
- Provide ongoing support to help your family maintain their eligibility for any needs-based benefits you may be receiving (such as MassHealth or SNAP benefits).
- Provide intensive support for transitions of care. For example, if your child has been hospitalized or admitted to the emergency department, your CARES provider can help ensure that appropriate in-home support or day services will be in place when your child is ready to come home or help identify an appropriate placement.
- Coordinate access to any other services as may be needed to support the child’s medical needs.
CARES and other care coordination programs
If my child is already enrolled in ACO care management, can they receive CARES for Kids services?
Your child may still be eligible for care coordination through CARES. The CARES team will serve as the lead care manager, facilitate the care team, and will work with the ACO care manager based on the member’s needs and preferences.
If my child is already enrolled in an LTSS Community Partner (CP) or Behavioral Health CP, can they receive CARES for Kids services?
If you are already enrolled in an LTSS CP or BH CP and would like to receive CARES for Kids services, you must choose which program best fits the needs of your child and family. You cannot be enrolled in both services at the same time.
What if my child already receives Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) through the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI)?
If you are eligible for both CARES and ICC programs, you must choose which program best fits the needs of your child and family. You cannot be enrolled in both services at the same time. While you cannot receive CARES and ICC services at the same time, you can continue to receive other CBHI services while enrolled in CARES for Kids. These other services include In-Home Therapy, Outpatient Therapy, Therapeutic Mentoring, In-Home Behavioral Services, and Family Partners. To continue to receive Therapeutic Mentoring or Family Partners while enrolled in CARES for Kids, you must also be receiving either Outpatient or In-Home Therapy services.
What if my child already receives Special Kids, Special Care services?
If you are eligible for both CARES and the SKSC program, you must choose which program best fits the needs of your child and family. You cannot be enrolled in both services at the same time.
Can my child enroll in CARES if they have MassHealth as secondary insurance?
Children who have other primary insurance and also have MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth as their secondary insurance can enroll in CARES.
If you’re not sure what type of MassHealth coverage your child has, you can call MassHealth at (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY: 711.
Can my child enroll in CARES if they are not part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?
Yes. Your child does not need to be a part of an ACO or Managed Care Organization to enroll in CARES. (See a current list of MassHealth ACOs/MCOs here). However, your child must have MassHealth Standard or MassHealth CommonHealth as their MassHealth coverage type.
If you’re not sure what type of MassHealth coverage your child has, you can call MassHealth at (800) 841-2900, TDD/TTY: 711
Contact
Phone
Self-service available 24 hrs/day in English and Spanish. Other services available Monday-Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Interpreter services are available.
| Date published: | October 2, 2023 |
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| Last updated: | April 23, 2025 |