August 18, 2020
RE: Telehealth Policy – MassHealth Managed Care Entity Bulletin 39
Dear Commonwealth Care Alliance Provider,
As you know, the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) outbreak has presented a public health emergency across the world. Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) remains committed to working with our provider partners to provide the highest quality, individualized care to the members we so proudly serve.
To mitigate the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak to healthcare providers, MassHealth recently released guidance updating certain telehealth flexibilities – MCE Bulletin 39: Updated MassHealth Telehealth, Durable Medical Equipment (DME), and Home Health policies. This bulletin offers clarification, with some modifications, of MassHealth’s current telehealth policy (as reflected in All Provider Bulletins 298, 289, 291, and 294), and extends the telehealth policy through December 31, 2020.
The extended telehealth period will help ensure members retain access to covered services, promote social distancing, and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 both before and after the expiration of the state of emergency in Massachusetts. These accommodations enable members to remain in their homes and reduce the possibility of exposure and transmission and preserves health system capacity.
CCA has begun implementing these changes to our claims processing system in accordance with the effective dates and modifier details referenced in the bulletin listed above. Any claims received and paid at the original rate with dates of services outlined in the bulletins will be automatically adjusted to pay at the updated rate. Providers will not be required to resubmit claims and no further action will be needed to receive COVID rate adjustments.
Please check the CCA Provider page (https://www.commonwealthcarealliance.org/ma/providers/) daily as we will continue to provide updates to the Provider Billing FAQs as they become available.
If you have any questions, please contact CCA’s Contracting Department via email at [email protected]. Thank you for your continued support and the quality of care you provide to CCA members as we work through the challenges of COVID-19.
Regards,
Commonwealth Care Alliance Contracting Department