EmblemHealth Provider Site
IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURE STORIES
Annual HEDIS Medical Record Review
Provider Portal User Authentication
MD PERSPECTIVES
Lama El Zein, MD, MHA
MEDICARE UPDATES
Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)
NY MEDICAID, HARP, AND CHILD HEALTH PLUS UPDATES
Changes to Children’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Transition
Reminder: No Referrals for EmblemHealth’s State Sponsored Programs and Essential Plans
Contact Information for Medicaid
Medicaid: New York State Medicaid Update
COMMERCIAL UPDATES
What You Need to Know About the Bridge Program
CLAIMS CORNER
New Cobranded Payment Integrity Policy
New Reimbursement Policies
Program and Policies Starting March 1, 2023
CLINICAL CORNER
Preauthorization Lists Revised With CMS’ Quarterly Updates
March Is National Kidney Month
Earn Incentives for Colorectal Cancer Screening
New: Palliative Care for Vulnerable Members
MEDICAL POLICIES
Retired Medical Policy
Revised Medical Policy
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Provider Portal Videos and Guides
Free Pulse8 Webinars
Valuable Training Available
IN EVERY ISSUE
Keep Your Directory and Other Information Current
Consult EmblemHealth’s Online Provider Manual
EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care and ConnectiCare Centers
Feature Stories
Annual HEDIS Medical Record Review: Responses Due March 31, 2023
Our Quality Management department is preparing for its yearly medical record review for the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®), Regulatory State Reporting, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In the next couple of weeks, you may receive a letter containing a list of your patients for whom we need medical records and a HEDIS Medical Record tip sheet. We ask that you send us back the patient list and the section of the patient chart that shows the HEDIS measure has been met. The return fax number and secure email instructions will be noted in the letter.
This project involves collecting information from medical records and submitting the findings to the state and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Compliance with HEDIS data collection is part of your Participating Provider Agreement(s). HEDIS and CMS consider missing records as noncompliant.
NOTE: If you use outside vendors to collect medical records, it is your contractual obligation to make members’ medical records available to the plan – at no charge – for these reviews.
We appreciate your cooperation and thank you in advance for your prompt response. If you have any questions or concerns, call our HEDIS Helpline at 631-844-2420.
Provider Portal User Authentication
We know that some of our providers or their office staff are being asked to authenticate their identity more often than expected when signing in to the provider portal. The portal is set up to ensure that our members’ privacy is protected and your administrative burden is minimal.
The portal requires authentication every time you sign in unless you check the box for us to remember you and delay the next authentication for 30 days. If you’ve checked the box and you are still being asked to authenticate, these are some of the reasons why:
- Signing in from a different computer or browser.
- Sharing your computer and browser with others.
- Clearing your browsing history or cache.
- Using Chrome with the sync feature set to on.
You need to consistently use a dedicated computer and browser for the 30-day delay to work.
Thank you for cooperating with our security practices and protecting patient data.
MD Perspectives
Lama El Zein MD, MHA
Hello, colleagues.
Addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) is complex and needs a delicate approach. Given the complexity of the topic, we understand that practices cannot address everything. Even so, we should all start somewhere. See how we can help you.
Our three-pronged approach to SDOH is to listen to members by collecting information, identifying the barriers to good health, and proposing reliable solutions. See more on our SDOH three-pronged approach
Lama
Lama El Zein MD, MHA
Sr. Medical Director/Population Health
If there are other health topics you would like our perspectives on, please write to us at
emblemhealthmedicaldirectors@emblemhealth.com.
While we welcome your suggestions, we ask that you do not send protected health information (PHI) or patient-specific issues to this mailbox. This mailbox should not be used for Complaints, Grievances, Appeals, or Claims Inquiries. The Claim Inquiry and Message Center features in the Provider Portals (EmblemHealth | ConnectiCare) should be used for those issues.
Medicare Updates
Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON)
All hospitals and critical access hospitals are required by CMS to provide Medicare beneficiaries, including Medicare Advantage enrollees, with the OMB-approved Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON). The MOON and instructions for completing it are available on CMS’ website.
NY Medicaid, HARP, and Child Health Plus Updates
Changes to Children’s Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) – Telehealth Respite Services
Effective Jan. 1, 2023, the New York State Department of Health policy flexibility allowed for Children’s Respite Services during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) has ended. EmblemHealth HCBS providers will be required to revert to the original guidance provided in the HCBS Manual. See the full article - Changes to Children’s HCBS - for more information.
Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Transition
Starting April 1, 2023, EmblemHealth’s Enhanced Care (Medicaid) and Enhanced Care Plus (HARP) members will have their pharmacy benefits transitioned from EmblemHealth to NYRx, the New York State (NYS) Medicaid Pharmacy program. Information regarding the pharmacy benefit transition is in the Oct. 2022 and Jan. 2023 Special Edition of Medicaid Update.
Reminder: No Referrals for EmblemHealth’s State Sponsored Programs and Essential Plans
EmblemHealth no longer requires primary care provider (PCP) referrals for specialty care for Enhanced Care (Medicaid), Enhanced Care Plus (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHPlus), and Essential Plan members. EmblemHealth CHPlus member ID cards were updated and reissued to reflect this change. See all plans that do not require a referral.
Contact Information for Medicaid
Providers must notify Medicaid of any change of address, telephone number, or other pertinent information within 15 days of the change. For more information on this requirement and how to submit changes, see Reminder: Keep Your Directory Data Current.
Medicaid: New York State Medicaid Update
View the latest Medicaid Updates from the New York State Department of Health.
Commercial Updates
What You Need to Know About the Bridge Program
See our new Bridge flyer to see the network participation list and your role in this unique program.
Claims Corner
New Cobranded Payment Integrity Policy
New Cobranded Payment Integrity Policy
We have a new, formal, cobranded Annual Fee Schedule Updates Payment Integrity Policy. See revision history for applicable changes/updates.
New Reimbursement Policies
New Policies
We are introducing three new reimbursement policies that will apply to both EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare.
HCPCS and CPT Coding Requirements for Outpatient Claims
We have a new formal cobranded HCPCS and CPT Coding Requirements for Outpatient Claims Reimbursement Policy. There are no changes to the policy criteria, only reformatted/transferred content to new template.
Part D Vaccine Billing Guidelines (Medicare) Reimbursement Policy
Starting May 16, 2023, the Part D Vaccine Billing Guidelines (Medicare) Reimbursement Policy that has been in effective for ConnectiCare will also apply to EmblemHealth. Consistent with guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare will not reimburse claims for Part D vaccines administered in the physician’s office and submitted under the Part B medical benefit.
Split/Fragmented Billing Services Policy
Starting June 4, 2023, the new Split/Fragmented Billing Services Reimbursement Policy for EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare will require all services rendered by the same provider on the same date of service to be filed on a single claim. Billing them on different claims prevents the application of claim edits and adjudication logic. This may result in an overpayment or underpayment and the member’s cost share incorrectly applied.
Claims found to be split billed will be subject to pre-pay/post-pay audits, denials, and recoveries.
Revised Policies
The following two reimbursement policies have been updated. See revision histories for applicable changes:
Reminder: Program and Policies Starting March 1, 2023
Should it get a text treatment?
Laboratory Benefit Management Program
Starting March 1, 2023, EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare will implement a new Laboratory Benefit Management (LBM) program in collaboration with Avalon Healthcare Solutions. The new Laboratory Benefit Management Payment Integrity Policy details the program components, including impacted laboratory services, tests, and procedures. It also includes a section of anticipated frequently asked questions (FAQs).
The program’s reimbursement policies are on our websites and are available for your review. If you receive a claim denial, the message will provide this website address, bit.ly/Our-RP, as a shortcut to the policies. Look for the applicable test to see why the claim denied. It will be tagged “(LBM)”. The same policies may be found on both of our sites:
- EmblemHealth: Reimbursement Policies.
- ConnectiCare: Reimbursement Policies.
Bundled Services Reimbursement Policy
New codes go into effect starting March 1, 2023 for our Bundled Services Reimbursement Policy (Commercial and Medicare). These apply to both EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare. See policy’s Revision History for the new codes.
Clinical Corner
Preauthorization Lists Revised With CMS’ Quarterly Updates for January 2023
EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare have updated all preauthorization lists to reflect the code changes shared in CMS’ quarterly update for January 2023. To see which codes require preauthorization, we recommend using the Preauthorization Check Tool in the provider portals. You may also see the preauthorization lists on our websites (EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare). In the event of a discrepancy, the published list will prevail.
March Is National Kidney Month
This is the perfect opportunity to educate patients on the importance of preventing and screening for kidney disease. It is especially important for those patients at high risk for developing kidney disease due to chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. What steps can you take?
- Educate patients on the importance of diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and a sleep routine.
- Create a treatment plan for at-risk patients that fits their lifestyle and dietary needs.
- Order a kidney health evaluation annually for all patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. This evaluation should include the following:
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
- Urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR).
Here are some resources you can share with your patients:
National Kidney Month | National Kidney Foundation
Kidney Professionals | National Kidney Foundation
Kidney Disease | NIDDK (nih.gov)
Earn Incentives for Colorectal Cancer Screening
In recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we want to emphasize the valuable opportunity to educate patients on the importance of colorectal cancer screening, prevention, and treatment. Colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 45 for those at average risk.
Did you know you may have the opportunity to earn an incentive when your patient is screened for colorectal cancer? If you would like to learn more, check out EmblemHealth’s Quality Incentive Program Quality Improvement | EmblemHealth.
A few resources you can use to help spread the word about colorectal cancer and educate patients on screening options are listed below:
Colorectal Cancer Screening: Patient Version (NIH)
Colorectal Cancer Screenings Tests (CDC)
Colorectal Cancer Screening Patient Poster (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
Resources for National Colorectal Cancer Awareness (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
New: Palliative Care for Vulnerable Members
On Jan. 1, 2023, we began offering Aspire Health’s in-home palliative care services to eligible EmblemHealth members as part of our care/case management programs. See full announcement.
Medical Policies
Retired Medical Policy
The Cryosurgery for Liver Tumors medical policy is being retired for both EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare.
Revised Medical Policy
ConnectiCare updated the Experimental, Investigational or Unproven Services Policy to include new codes and remove others, effective Jan. 1, 2023. ConnectiCare defines the terms “investigational” or “experimental” as the use of a service, procedure, or supply that is not recognized by the health plan as standard medical care for the condition, disease, illness, or injury being treated. A service, procedure, or supply includes, but is not limited to, the diagnostic service, treatment, facility, equipment, drug, or device.
Training Opportunities
Provider Portal Videos and Guides
If you need help navigating our provider portals, please see our videos, quick guides, and Frequently Asked Questions pages:
EmblemHealth Videos and Guides
ConnectiCare Videos and Guides
If you still have questions or need additional support, you may contact Provider Customer Service:
EmblemHealth: 866-447-9717
ConnectiCare: Commercial: 860-674-5850, Medicare: 877-224-8230
Free Pulse8 Webinars: Patient Management and ICD-10 Coding for the 2023 EmblemHealth Risk Adjustment Program
EmblemHealth continues to partner with Pulse8™ to promote risk adjustment and gap-closure education for PCPs caring for EmblemHealth members enrolled in these products:
- New York State of Health (NYSOH) Marketplace.
- Medicare HMO.
- Medicaid.
Pulse8 offers free monthly webinars to help educate providers on best practices regarding the risk adjustment process, including accurate medical record documentation and claims coding to capture the complete health status of each patient. We encourage PCPs and/or their support staff to register for Pulse8’s monthly webinars. Go to Pulse8’s Public Event List and search by webinar date or title.
These Pulse8 webinars are generally held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Here are the February and March topics:
- Feb. 21/23 - Shadowing the Essential Elements of Risk Adjustment and HCC’s
- March 28/30 - The Ultimate Guide to Documentation and Coding
If you are interested in learning more about how you can view Pulse8’s provider resources and webinars, please contact Pulse8’s Customer Support team Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 844-8PULSE8 (844-878-5738) or email providerengagement@pulse8.com.
Valuable Training Available
We recommend that you take advantage of the training opportunities offered by CMS’ Medicare Learning Network and eMedNY.
In Every Issue
Keep Your Directory and Other Information Current
Let Us Know When Directory Information Changes
If a provider in your practice is leaving, please inform us as soon as possible. To report other changes, sign in to your Provider/Practice Profile for EmblemHealth or ConnectiCare. If you participate with us under a delegated credentialing agreement, please have your administrator submit these changes. See more on how to submit changes for EmblemHealth and ConnectiCare.
Remember to review your CAQH application every 120 days and ensure you have authorized EmblemHealth as an eligible plan to access your CAQH information.
Consult EmblemHealth’s Online Provider Manual for Important Information
The EmblemHealth Provider Manual is a valuable online resource and an extension of your Provider Agreement. It applies to all EmblemHealth plans and includes details about your administrative responsibilities and contractual and regulatory obligations. You can also find information about best practices for interacting with our plans and how to help our members navigate their health care. You can find the EmblemHealth Provider Manual on top right side of our website.
EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care and ConnectiCare Centers
Our EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care and ConnectiCare Centers provide one-on-one customer support to help members understand their health plan, provide connection to community resources, and offer free health and wellness events to help the entire community learn healthy behaviors. Our virtual and on-demand events are available to you and all your patients. View locations and upcoming events for EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care and ConnectiCare.
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