New Timeline for MC Rollout – Update on NYS Behavioral Health Managed Care Transition

Dear MRT Listserv Subscriber:

The timeline for implementation of the Adult and Children’s Behavioral Health Medicaid Managed Care transition has been updated as follows:

Adult Behavioral Health Managed Care Timeline

NYC Implementation

July 2015 – First Phase of HARP Enrollment Letters Distributed (see below for an explanation of initial enrollment process)

  • NY Medicaid Choice enrollment letters will be distributed in three phases:
    • Approximately 20,000 July/August distribution for October enrollment
    • Approximately 20,000 August/September distribution for November enrollment
    • Approximately 20,000 September/October distribution for December enrollment

October 1, 2015 – Mainstream Plans and HARPs implement non-HCBS behavioral health services for enrolled members

October 2015-January 2016 – HARP enrollment phases in

January 1, 2016 – HCBS begin for HARP population 

Rest of State Implementation

June 30, 2015 – RFQ distributed (with expedited application for NYC designated Plans)

October 2015 – Conditional designation of Plans

October 2015-March 2016 – Plan Readiness Review Process

April 1, 2016 – First Phase of HARP Enrollment Letters Distributed

July 1, 2016 – Mainstream Plan Behavioral Health Management and Phased HARP Enrollment Begins 

Explanation of Initial Enrollment Process

  1. Individuals initially identified by NYS as HARP eligible, who are already enrolled in an MCO with a HARP, will be passively enrolled in that Plan’s HARP. 
  2. Individuals identified for passive enrollment will be contacted by the NYS Enrollment Broker.
  3. They will be given 30 days to opt out or choose to enroll in another HARP
  4. Once enrolled in a HARP, members will be given 90 days to choose another HARP or return to Mainstream before they are locked into the HARP for 9 additional months (after which they are free to change Plans at any time).
  5. Individuals initially identified as HARP eligible who are already enrolled in an MCO without a HARP will not be passively enrolled. They will be notified of their HARP eligibility and referred to the NYS Enrollment Broker to help them decide which Plan is right for them. 
  6. HARP eligible individuals in an HIV SNP will be able to receive HCBS services through the HIV SNP.  They will also be given the opportunity to enroll in another HARP. They will be notified of their HARP eligibility and referred to the NYS Enrollment Broker to help them decide which Plan is right for them. 

Children’s Behavioral Health Managed Care Timeline

January 1, 2017 – NYC and Long Island Children’s Transition to Managed Care

July 1, 2017 – Rest of State Children’s Transition to Managed Care

Thank you,
The MRT Behavioral Health Team

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