02.19.2018

MassHealth ACO Program Begins March 1

The MassHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program begins on Thursday, March 1.  Providers and state officials have been working diligently in recent months to ensure that the more than 1 million affected MassHealth members are aware of the changes that will occur and that their continuity of care is maintained. 

Seventeen ACOs will participate in three types of ACO models and MassHealth also recently re-procured its Managed Care Organization (MCO) program with BMC HealthNet Plan and Tufts. The Primary Care Clinician (PCC) program will also continue for primary care physicians that choose not to participate in an ACO or MCO.

MassHealth members have been notified about how to choose to enroll and how they’ll be assigned an ACO/MCO if they don’t make a choice. The state also created the www.masshealthchoices.com website to help individuals determine the ACO with which their primary care physicians are affiliated. Given the various issues that patients will have to consider, including potential changes in PCPs, specialists, and MCO plans, it is important that patients are informed by those trained in these changes. MassHealth encourages enrollees to call its customer service number (800-841-2900) to learn about their options.

MassHealth has created a new website for providers related to the changes occurring with the ACO and MCO program, including how to access education materials and training webinars.

Since last year, MHA has frequently sent its members guidance documents informing them of ACO program developments, as well as notifications regarding MassHealth training and educational materials.