CCA One Care becomes first and only plan of its kind in Berkshire County, a major stride towards improving access and health outcomes for individuals with significant needs in the region
Boston, MA – January 29, 2021 – Commonwealth Care Alliance® (CCA), a not-for-profit community-based healthcare organization that coordinates and provides individualized care for over 38,000 people with significant medical, behavioral health, and social needs, including chronic illnesses and disabilities, today announced the expansion of its One Care plan into Berkshire County. With this expansion, Berkshire County residents between the ages of 21-64 who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (MassHealth) can enroll in One Care for the first time starting in January 2021.
“This service area expansion represents a major milestone as CCA extends its mission of improving the health and well-being of people with significant needs while completing our goal of offering our top rated One Care plan throughout Massachusetts,” said Christopher D. Palmieri, President and CEO of Commonwealth Care Alliance. “It also offers new opportunities at a time of great public health challenges and will enhance our ability to provide and coordinate care for even more individuals with complex needs across the state.”
A Massachusetts demonstration Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP), One Care integrates MassHealth and Medicare benefits while providing additional benefits and services at no cost to eligible beneficiaries. With One Care, members have one health plan, one card, and one person to coordinate all of their care needs—from medical to social to behavioral health and supplies—to stay healthy and independent at home and in the community.
“We know that people struggling with loneliness, with hunger, with transportation, or with other basic needs are less likely to focus on their own medical or behavioral health,” said Umar Farooq, General Manager of Massachusetts at CCA. “Our care teams work tirelessly to address all of these needs, and we are thrilled to bring our innovative approach to care to thousands of eligible Berkshire residents for the first time.”
CCA One Care, the largest and fastest growing plan of its kind in Massachusetts, becomes the first MMP to enter Berkshire County. More than 1,500 Berkshire County residents will be eligible to enroll beginning in January 2021. The CCA contract with Berkshire Medical Center will also add over 850 providers to the CCA network of more than 25,000 providers throughout Massachusetts. This expansion will also bring roughly a dozen new healthcare jobs into the area in the coming year.
Nationally recognized for its unique approach to care, CCA One Care has been profiled in The Atlantic, Politico, and Modern Healthcare. CCA One Care expanded to Barnstable County in 2020, and, with the addition of Berkshire County in 2021, now covers all of mainland Massachusetts.
About Commonwealth Care Alliance
Commonwealth Care Alliance® (CCA) is the not-for-profit, community-based healthcare organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of people with significant needs by innovating, coordinating and providing the highest quality, individualized care. CCA is a nationally recognized leader in providing care for high-cost, high-needs individuals through a proven model that improves quality and health outcomes while reducing overall costs of care. In Massachusetts, CCA’s two health plans serve over 38,000 members who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. For five consecutive years*, CCA One Care earned a top overall experience rating from consumers; in 2020, CCA earned 93%. For 2021, CMS rated CCA Senior Care Options 4.5 out of 5 stars. CCA was named one of the Top Places to Work in Massachusetts by the Boston Globe in 2020. Learn more about CCA’s pioneering healthcare solutions and validated care model at http://www.commonwealthcarealliance.org or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
*Based on the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) surveys.