CAMPS Members,
This message was original sent on September 7; however, we believe that there was a list failure and only a handful of our members actually received the message. Therefore, we are resending it to be sure everyone has an opportunity to receive this update.
Thank you!
DHCS Publishes "Clarification" On SPD Transition and Out of Network Providers
Yesterday DHCS issued a policy to clarify that only physicians are included in the continuity of care provision under SB 208 and the transition of SPD beneficiaries to Medi-Cal plans. The policy states that the only types of providers that are included the continuity of care for these patients are physicians and physician specialists. CAMPS previously informed our members in our SPD webinar that DME and medical supply providers could be included under this provision at the patient request. We had gone so far as to clear that advise with DHCS staff prior to its inclusion in the webinar.
This change is disappointing to say the least and will lead to good providers being excluded by some plans based upon their assumption that their network of providers is adequate. We would continue to urge that members attempt to become a part of these plan networks and to encourage your patients to advocate for your inclusion.
Click here for a link to the policy.
For more information, please call Bob Achermann at 916/443-2115 or email at bachermann@amgroup.us.
Medi-Cal Change of Fiscal Intermediary
Effective October 3, 2011, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) will have a new contractor providing fiscal intermediary (FI) services to support the Medi-Cal program. The new FI is Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), a Xerox Company. ACS has national experience in the administration of state Medicaid programs. ACS will assume full responsibility for Medi-Cal claims processing and related services on October 3. Prior to that date, the current Medi-Cal FI, Hewlett-Packard (HP), will continue to provide those services.
DHCS is overseeing this transition of services from one FI to another and is applying best practices to ensure that the transition is seamless and that there is minimal or no impact on the provider community. There should be no interruption in the services providers normally receive from the Medi-Cal FI, including claims submission, processing, and payment. There are no changes to how providers can contact Medi-Cal; the phone numbers, mailing addresses, Web sites, and methods providers currently use to contact Medi-Cal or access information will remain the same.
Likewise, Medi-Cal communications to providers will continue to be issued through the existing channels: provider bulletins, Web site updates, interactive voice response (IVR) messages, etc. If any problems occur during the transition that providers should be made aware of, Web site and IVR updates will be posted immediately, and the provider associations will be notified. In addition, the telephone service center will be augmented with extra resources to ensure providers have immediate access to assistance should the need arise.
New DHCS Fiscal Intermediary Transition Town Hall Sessions
This September, ACS, A Xerox Company, in partnership with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), will host three Transition Town Hall Sessions. The purpose of these Town Halls is to provide details about important changes that will occur after ACS assumes operations as the new DHCS Fiscal Intermediary. The Town Halls will also provide information on key dates leading up to ACS' assumption of operations on October 3, 2011. The sessions are free and will be held in three cities at morning, afternoon, and evening times to accommodate as many attendees as possible.
Providers who are interested in attending any one of these sessions can register by sending an email to Medi-CalOutreach@acs-inc.com. All emails should include the following: the provider name, the number of people attending, and the date, time and location of the preferred session. For example: ABC Clinic, 10 attendees, Tuesday, September 13, 2011, at 9 a.m. in Ontario.
The available session times for each date/location are 9 a.m. - noon, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Sheraton Ontario Airport Hotel
429 North Vineyard Avenue
Ontario, California 91764
(909) 937-8000
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Desert Palms Hotel and Suites
631 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 535-1133
Monday, September 26, 2011
Hilton (Arden West)
2200 Harvard Street
Sacramento, CA 95815-3306
(916) 922-4700
