Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)

(A) Enrollment in an MCO. (1) Selection Procedure. When a member becomes eligible for managed care, the MassHealth agency notifies the member of the member’s obligation to select a MassHealth managed care provider within the time period specified by the MassHealth agency. The MassHealth agency makes available to the member a list of the MCOs in the member’s service area. The list of MCOs that the MassHealth agency will make available to members will include those MCOs that contract with the MassHealth agency to serve the coverage type for which the member is eligible and provide services within the member’s service area. The member’s service area is determined by the MassHealth agency based on zip codes or geographic area. Service area listings may be obtained from the MassHealth agency. (2) MassHealth members are assigned to MCOs, may transfer from MCOs, may be disenrolled from MCOs, and may be re-enrolled in MCOs as described in 130 CMR 508.003(B) through 130 CMR 508.003(E). (B) Obtaining Services when Enrolled in an MCO. (1) Primary Care Services. When the member selects or is assigned to an MCO, that MCO will deliver the member’s primary care, determine if the member needs medical or other specialty care from other providers, and determine referral requirements for such necessary medical services. (2) Other Medical Services. All medical services to members enrolled in an MCO (except those services not covered under the MassHealth contract with the MCO, family planning services, and emergency services) are subject to the authorization and referral requirements of the MCO. MassHealth members enrolled in an MCO may receive family planning services from any MassHealth family planning provider and do not need an authorization or referral in order to receive such services. Members enrolled with an MCO should contact their MCO for information about covered services, authorization requirements, and referral requirements. (3) Behavioral Health Services. Members who enroll in an MCO receive behavioral health services through that MCO. All behavioral health services to members enrolled in an MCO, except those services not covered under the MassHealth contract with the MCO, are subject to the authorization and referral requirements of the MCO. Members enrolled with an MCO should contact their MCO for information about covered services, authorization requirements, and referral requirements. (4) Native Americans and Alaska Natives. Individuals who are Native Americans (within the meaning of “Indians” as defined at 42 U.S.C. 1396u-2) or Alaska Natives who participate in managed care under MassHealth may choose to receive covered services from an Indian health-care provider. Such Indian health care providers may participate in MassHealth subject to applicable provisions of 130 CMR 450.000: Administrative and Billing Regulations. (C) Copayments. Members who are enrolled in MCOs must make copayments in accordance with the MCO’s MassHealth copayment policy. Those MCO copayment policies must (1) be approved by MassHealth; and (2) be consistent with applicable copayment requirements set forth in 130 CMR 450.000: Administrative and Billing Regulations, 130 CMR 506.000: MassHealth: Financial Requirements, and 130 CMR 520.000: MassHealth: Financial Eligibility.