Network Health Selected to Participate in MassHealth CarePlus Program

Network Health, a Tufts Health Plan subsidiary that provides access to health coverage for more than 215,000 Massachusetts residents, announced today that the health plan has been selected by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to enter contract negotiations for a contract to serve MassHealth CarePlus program members in all five regions of the Commonwealth. CarePlus is a new MassHealth benefit plan for Massachusetts residents ages 21 – 64 with incomes no greater than 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

CarePlus coverage will cover many residents who now have Commonwealth Care, MassHealth Essential, MassHealth Basic, the Medical Security Program or the Insurance Partnership, or who receive services paid for by the Health Safety Net.

“We are excited for the opportunity to serve MassHealth’s CarePlus members,” said Debbie Gordon, Network Health chief sales and marketing officer. “Our participation reflects our long history of successfully partnering with the state to provide affordable, high-quality health care, and our deep commitment to serving this population in an effort to improve the health and wellness of the diverse communities we serve.”

With Network Health Together, the health plan’s CarePlus product, all members will have access to services from a trusted network of primary care providers and specialists; doctors and a member services team who speak many languages; and in-house medical, mental health, and pharmacy professionals who work together to coordinate care. Network Health plans also include help with certain nonmedical needs and resources. For managing care around the clock, members have access to a user-friendly member portal, Network Health Member Connect, free health support by phone through a 24/7 NurseLine, and the health plan’s website (also available in Spanish).

CarePlus coverage takes effect January 1, 2014. For information on Network Health or help with enrollment, please call 888-257-1985 or visit Network-Health.org. For information on MassHealth, please call 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit mass.gov/masshealth;

About Network Health
Since 1997, Network Health has provided access to high-quality health care for Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes. Network Health is a nonprofit, comprehensive health plan serving members through Network Health Together® (MassHealth), Network Health Forward® (Commonwealth Care), Network Health Extend™ (Medical Security Program), Network Health Choice (an individual and small-group plan), and Network Health Unify (Medicare-Medicaid One Care for people ages 21 – 64).

To improve the health and well-being of its more than 215,000 members and their diverse communities, Network Health offers fully integrated, in-house care management, providing a team of medical, behavioral health, social care, and pharmacy professionals who coordinate member care. Network Health partners with more than 20,000 primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and community organizations statewide.

Network Health earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) “Excellent” Health Plan Accreditation status, NCQA’s highest accreditation rating, for its Network Health Together plan. In 2013, NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings ranked Network Health as the third highest Medicaid Health Plan in the United States. Since 2010, Network Health has ranked among the top 10 Medicaid health plans nationally, according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings — Medicaid. Network Health is among 10 health plans nationally and the first health plan in New England to earn the NCQA Multicultural Health Care Distinction. Additionally, Network Health is nationally recognized for its innovative programs; it won the Dorland Health Case In Point Platinum Award for “Best Social Care Management Team” in 2013, “Best Integrated Case Management Team” in 2012 and “Best Overall Case/Care Management Program” in 2010. Network Health is also recognized for its top leadership team among health plans nationwide by HealthLeaders Media.

Network Health became a subsidiary of Tufts Health Plan in 2011. Tufts Health Plan is a nonprofit organization nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage to its more than 1,000,000 members. Tufts Health Plan is one of the few health insurers in Massachusetts to participate in the commercial, Medicare and Medicaid/subsidized markets, offering coverage across the life span regardless of age or circumstance.  Its HMO and PPO plans are continually ranked in the top 10 of insurance plans across the country by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Its Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO earned a 4.5 star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for 2013.

For more information about Network Health, call 888-257-1985 or visit Network-Health.org. Follow Network Health on Facebook and @_NetworkHealth on Twitter.

To learn about health plan options, Massachusetts residents can call the Health Connector at 877-636-4654 (TTY: 877-623-7773), Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., or visit MAhealthconnector.org; call MassHealth at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit mass.gov/masshealth; or call the Medical Security Program at 800-908-8801, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit mass.gov/dua/msp.