CD version of the Provider Manual annually, which will be made available by contacting the Provider Services Department, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., toll free at (855) 322-4075. This manual contains samples of the forms needed to fulfill your obligations under your Molina contract.
by P Van Duine — Molina Healthcare of California Dual Options Medicare-Medicaid Provider Manual. Any reference to Molina Healthcare members means ...
1
Dear Provider,
Welcome to Molina Healthcare of California (Molina) and thank you for your participation in the delivery of quality health care services to Molina Dual Options (Medicare-Medicaid Program) Members. Enclosed is your Molina Dual Options (Medicare-Medicaid Program) Provider Manual.
This Provider Manual shall serve as a supplement as referenced thereto and incorporated therein, to your Molina Healthcare of California Services Agreement. In the event of any conflict between this Provider Manual and the Provider Manual distributed with reference to Molina Medicaid or Molina Medicare Members, this Provider Manual shall take precedence over matters concerning the management and care of Molina Dual Options Plan Members.
The information contained within this Provider Manual is proprietary. The information is not to be copied in whole or in part; nor is the information to be distributed without the express written consent of Molina. The Provider Manual is a reference tool that contains eligibility, benefits, contact information and Molina policies and procedures. This Provider Manual is also designed to provide you with assistance in all areas of your practice, from making referrals to receiving payment for your services.
The Provider Manual is reviewed, evaluated and updated as needed and at a minimum annually. All changes and updates will be updated and posted to the Molina Medicare-Medicaid website at www.MolinaHealthcare.com. Contracted Providers can also request a hard copy or CD version of the Provider Manual annually, which will be made available by contacting Molina, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m., toll free at (855) 322-4075.
We appreciate and value your participation in Molina's provider network. We look forward to continuing working together to provide quality, culturally sensitive and accessible health care services to our Molina Dual Options (Medicare-Medicaid Program) Members.
Sincerely,
Paul Van Duine Vice President of Network Management & Operations Molina Healthcare of California 200 Oceangate, Suite 100, Long Beach, CA 90802 Tel: (562) 435-3666 Fax: (562) 951-8313
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 3 2. Background and Overview of Molina Healthcare (Molina) ............................................... 4 3. Contact Information for Providers Molina Dual Options Plan ........................................... 5 4. Eligibility and Enrollment in Molina Dual Options Plan ................................................... 8 5. Benefit Overview .............................................................................................................. 13 6. Quality Improvement ........................................................................................................ 14 7. Healthcare Services........................................................................................................... 30 8. Long Term Care and Services........................................................................................... 77 9. Members' Rights and Responsibilities ............................................................................. 84 10. Provider Responsibilities .................................................................................................. 85 11. Cultural Competency and Linguistic Services.................................................................. 97 12. Claims and Compensation .............................................................................................. 101 13. Compliance ..................................................................................................................... 111 14. Credentialing and Recredentialing.................................................................................. 125 15. Facility Site Review ........................................................................................................ 176 16. Delegation ....................................................................................................................... 182 17. Member Grievances and Appeals ................................................................................... 184 18. Medicare Part D .............................................................................................................. 189 19. Risk Adjustment Management Program ......................................................................... 196 20. Glossary .......................................................................................................................... 198
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1. Introduction
Molina Dual Options (MMP) is the brand name of Molina Healthcare of California's MedicareMedicaid Program.
Molina is licensed and approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to operate in the following states: California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Molina Dual Options MMP)
Dual Options (MMP) is the name of Molina's Medicare-Medicaid Program. The Dual Options plan was designed for Members who are dual eligible: individuals who are eligible for both Medicare and full Medicaid in order to provide quality healthcare coverage and service with little out-of-pocket costs. Dual Options (MMP) embraces Molina's longstanding mission to serve those who are the most in need and traditionally have faced barriers to quality health care.
Please contact the Provider Services Department, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m., toll free at (855) 322-4075 with questions regarding this program.
Use of this Manual
From time to time, this manual will be revised as policies or regulatory requirements change. All changes and updates will be updated and posted to the Molina Medicare-Medicaid website. The Provider manual is accessible electronically on the Provider website at www.MolinaHealthcare.com. All contracted Providers can also request to receive a hard copy or CD version of the Provider Manual annually, which will be made available by contacting the Provider Services Department, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., toll free at (855) 322-4075.
This manual contains samples of the forms needed to fulfill your obligations under your Molina contract. If you are already using forms that accomplish the same goals, you may not need to modify them.
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2. Background and Overview of Molina Healthcare (Molina)
Molina Healthcare, headquartered in Long Beach, California, is a national managed care company focused on providing health care services to people who receive benefits through government-sponsored programs. Molina is a health plan driven by the belief that each person should be treated like family and deserves quality care.
C. David Molina, M.D., founded the company in 1980 as a provider organization with a network of primary care clinics in California. As the need to more effectively manage and deliver health care services to low-income populations grew, Molina has grown to be a health plan serving millions of Members across the country.
The Benefit of Experience
By focusing exclusively on serving low-income families and individuals who receive health care benefits through government-sponsored programs, Molina has developed strong relationships with Members, Providers and government agencies within each regional market that it serves. Molina's ability to deliver quality care, establish and maintain Provider networks, and administer services efficiently has enabled it to compete successfully for government contracts.
Quality
Molina is committed to quality and has made accreditation a strategic goal for each health plan. Year after year, Molina health plans have received accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance© (NCQA). The NCQA accreditation process sets the industry standard for quality in health plan operations.
Flexible Care Delivery Systems
Molina has constructed its systems for health care delivery to be readily adaptable to different markets and changing conditions. Health care services are arranged through contracts with Providers that include independent Providers, medical groups, hospitals and ancillary Providers. Our systems support multiple contracting models, such as fee-for-service, capitation, per diem, case rates and diagnostic-related groups (DRG).
Cultural and Linguistic Expertise
National census data shows that the United States' population is becoming increasingly diverse. Molina has over thirty-five (35) years of history developing targeted health care programs for a culturally diverse membership, and is well-positioned to successfully serve these growing populations by: Contracting with a diverse network of community-oriented Providers who have the
capabilities to address the linguistic and cultural needs of Members; Educating employees about the differing needs among Members; and, Developing Member education material in a variety of media and languages and ensure the
literacy level is appropriate for our target audience.
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3. Contact Information for Providers Molina Dual Options Plan
Molina Dual Options Plan (Medicare-Medicaid Program) Molina Healthcare of California 200 Oceangate, Suite 100 Long Beach, CA 90802
24 HOUR NURSE ADVICE LINE FOR MOLINA DUAL OPTIONS PLAN
SMerEviMceBs EavRaSilable in English English
(888) 275-8750
and in Spanish.
Telephone
Spanish Telephone
(866) 648-3537
Hearing
711
Impaired
(TTY/TDD)
CLAIMS AND CLAIMS APPEALS
Mailing Address: Molina Dual Options Claims P.O. Box 22702 Long Beach, CA 90801
Telephone
(888) 322-4075
*Note: For contested claims, please resubmit a hard copy claim with the information requested.
COMPLIANCE/ANTI-FRAUD HOTLINE
Confidential
Telephone
Compliance Official
Molina Healthcare, Inc.
200 Oceangate, Suite 100
Email
Long Beach, CA 90802
CREDENTIALING
Molina Dual Options Plan of California Credentialing Department 200 Oceangate, Suite 100 Long Beach CA 90802
Telephone Fax
QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Molina Dual Options Plan
Telephone
Quality Improvement
Department
200 Oceangate, Suite 100
Long Beach CA 90802
(866) 606-3889 https://MolinaHealthcare.alertline.com (800) 526-8196, Ext. 120117 (888) 665-4629 (800) 526-8196, Ext. 126137
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INPATIENT/CONTINUED STAY REVIEW
Molina Dual Options Plan Utilization Management
Telephone Fax
(844) 557-8434 24/7 including
Afterhours, Weekends, Holidays (866) 472-0596 Medicare
PRIOR AUTHORIZATION (PRE-SERVICE)
Molina Dual Options Plan
Telephone
Utilization Management
Fax
(844) 557-8434 24/7 including Afterhours, Weekends, Holidays (866) 472-0596 Medicare
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SUPPORT UNIT (EDSU)
Molina Dual Options Plan
Telephone
EDSU 24/7: (844) 966-5462
Emergency Department Support Fax
Fax ED notification to:
Unit
(877) 665-4625
CASE MANAGEMENT Referrals to case management can Telephone be made via phone, fax or email.
(888) 562-5442 x 127604 Monday-Friday 8:30-5:30pm
Fax
(562) 499-6105
COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH Los Angeles Riverside
San Bernardino
San Diego
Email
MHCCaseManagement@MolinaHeal thcare.com
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health 550 South Vermont Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90020 (800) 854-7771
Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health CARES (Community Access, Referral, Evaluation, and Support) Line (800) 706-7500 phone (800) 915-5512 TTY
San Bernardino County Behavioral Health 303 E. Vanderbilt Way San Bernardino, CA 92415 Member Services: 24/7 Access & Referral Helpline: 1 (888) 743-1478 (909) 386-8256 TTY
San Diego Behavioral Health Services Health and Human Services Agency County of San Diego 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 206 San Diego, CA 92101 (888) 724-7240
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EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SUPPORT UNIT (EDSU)
Molina Dual Options Plan
Telephone
EDSU 24/7: (844) 966-5462
200 Oceangate, Suite 100
Fax
Fax ED notification to:
Long Beach, CA 90802
(877) 665-4625
HEARING AND DENTAL Avesis Third Party Administrators 10324 S Dolfield Road Owings Mill, MD 21117
Telephone
Toll Free Phone (800) 327-4462
VISION March Vision Care 6701 Center Drive W, Suite 790 Los Angeles, CA 90045
Telephone
Toll Free Phone (844) 366-2724
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4. Eligibility and Enrollment in Molina Dual Options Plan
Members who wish to enroll in Molina's Dual Options Plan, must meet the following eligibility criteria: Age twenty-one (21) and older at the time of enrollment; Entitled to benefits under Medicare Part A and enrolled under Medicare Parts B and D, and
receiving full Medicaid benefits;
Eligible for full Medicaid (Medi-Cal); o Individuals enrolled in the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) o Individuals who meet the share of cost provisions Nursing facility residents with a share of cost; MSSP enrollees with a share of cost; IHSS recipients who met their share of cost on the first day of the month, in the fifth and fourth months prior to their effective passive enrollment date for the Demonstration
Individuals eligible for full Medicaid (Medi-Cal) per the spousal impoverishment rule codified at section 1924 of the Social Security Act o For those Enrollees who are nursing facility level of care, subacute facility level of care, or intermediate care facility level of care and reside or could reside outside of a hospital or nursing facility, a Medi-Cal eligibility determination shall be made "as if" the beneficiary were in a long-term care facility. Specifically, the spousal impoverishment rule codified section 1924 of the Act will apply to Enrollees. The terms "intermediate care facility level of care" and "nursing facility level of care" and "subacute facility level of care" shall have the same meaning as defined in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations sections 51120, 51124, and 52224.5.
Reside in the applicable duals demonstration counties: Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino, and San Diego. o Up to 200,000 individuals in Los Angeles may be enrolled in the Demonstration.
Molina's Dual Options Plan will accept all Members that meet the above criteria and elect Molina's Dual Options Plan during appropriate enrollment periods.
Further, the enrollment table below summarizes eligibility for the Demonstration, including populations that will be excluded from enrollment.
Population
Everyone eligible for the demonstration must be a full-benefit dual eligible Beneficiaries in rural zip codes excluded from managed care Beneficiaries with other Health Coverage TwoPlan/Geographic Managed Care (GMC) county
Eligibility (CA Welfare and Institutions Code Section 14132.275) Included
Excluded
Excluded
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Population
Beneficiaries with other Health Coverage County Organized Health System (COHS) county Beneficiaries under age twenty-one (21) Beneficiaries in the following 1915(c) Waivers: Nursing Facility/Acute Hospital Waiver, HIV/AIDS Waiver, Assisted Living Waiver, and In Home Operations Waiver. ICF-DD Residents Resident in one of the Veterans' Homes of California Beneficiaries with ESRD previous diagnosis (excluding San Mateo and Orange counties) Beneficiaries with ESRD subsequent diagnosis post-enrollment Beneficiaries with a Share of Cost in skilled nursing facility, MSSP, or IHSS and continuously certified to meet share of cost as detailed in Appendix 7, section III.D.ix Beneficiaries with a Share of Cost in community and not continuously certified
Eligibility (CA Welfare and Institutions Code Section 14132.275) Excluded
Excluded Excluded
Excluded Excluded Excluded
Included
Included
Excluded
Individuals that may enroll but may not be passively enrolled include: Individuals residing in the following rural zip codes in San Bernardino County in which only
one Cal MediConnect Plan operates: 92252, 92256, 92268, 92277, 92278, 92284, 92285, 92286, 92304, 92305, 92309, 92310, 92311, 92312, 92314, 92315, 92317, 92321, 92322, 92325, 92326, 92327, 92333, 92338, 92339, 92341, 92342, 92347, 92352, 92356, 92365, 92368, 92372, 92378, 92382, 92385, 92386, 92391, 92397, and 92398; Individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage in 2014; Individuals in one of the following programs may enroll only after they have disenrolled from the program: o Individuals enrolled in the following 1915(c) waivers: Nursing Facility/Acute hospital
Waiver, HIV/AIDS Waiver, Assisted Living Waiver, and In Home Operations Waiver; and o Individuals enrolled in Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) or the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
A. Enrollment/Disenrollment Information
All Members of Molina's Dual Options Plan are full benefit dual eligible (e.g., they receive both Medicare and Medicaid). Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules state that these Members may enroll or disenroll from Participating Plans and transfers between Participating Plans on a month-to-month basis any time during the year; and will be effective on the first day of the month following the request to do so.
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B. Prospective and Existing Member Toll-Free Telephone Numbers
Existing Members may call our Member Services Department Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time at (855) 665-4627. For TTY/TDD users call 711.
C. Effective Date of Coverage
The effective date of coverage for Members will be the first day of the month following the acceptance of enrollment received through the CMS TRR file. An enrollment cannot be effective prior to the date the Member or their legal representative signed the enrollment form or completed the enrollment election. During the applicable enrollment periods, if Molina's Dual Options Plan receives a confirmed enrollment through the CMS TRR file process, Molina's Dual Options Plan ensures that the effective date is the first day of the following month.
D. Disenrollment
Staff of Molina's Dual Options Plan may never, verbally, in writing, or by any other action or inaction, request or encourage a Medicare MMP Member to disenroll except when the Member has: 1. A change in residence (includes incarceration see below) makes the individual
ineligible to remain enrolled in the MMP; 2. The Member loses entitlement to either Medicare Part A or Part B; 3. The Member loses Medicaid eligibility; 4. The Member dies; 5. The Member materially misrepresents information to the MMP regarding reimbursement
for third-party coverage.
When Members permanently move out of Molina's service area or leave Molina's service area for over six (6) consecutive months, they must disenroll from Molina's Dual Options Plan. There are a number of ways that the Molina's Enrollment Accounting department may be informed that the Member has relocated: Out-of-area notification will be received from DHCS and forwarded to CMS on the monthly
membership report; Through the CMS DTRR file (confirms that the Member has disenrolled); The Member may call to advise Molina's Dual Options Plan that they have relocated; and Molina will direct them to DHCS for formal notification; and/or, Other means of notification may be made through the Claims Department, if out-of-area
claims are received with a residential address other than the one on file; Molina will inform DHCS so they can reach out to the Member directly to begin the disenrollment process. (Molina's Dual Options Plan does not offer a visitor/traveler program to Members).
Molina's Dual Options Plan will refer the Member to DHCS (or their designated vendor, Health Care Options) to process disenrollment of Members from the health plan only as allowed by
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CMS regulations. Molina's Dual Options Plan may request that a Member be disenrolled under the following circumstances: Member requests disenrollment; Member enrolls in another plan; Member has engaged in disruptive behavior, which is defined as behavior that
substantially impairs the plan's ability to arrange for or provide services to the individual or other plan Members. An individual cannot be considered disruptive if such behavior is related to the use of medical services or compliance (or noncompliance) with medical advice or treatment.
Other reasons for the disenrollment may be one of the following (where Molina will notify DHCS to begin the disenrollment process): Member abuses the enrollment card by allowing others to use it to fraudulently obtain
services; Member leaves the service area and directly notifies Molina's Dual Options Plan of the
permanent change of residence; Member has not permanently moved but has been out of the service area for six (6) months
or more; Member loses entitlement to Medicare Part A or Part B benefits; Member loses Medicaid eligibility; Molina's Dual Options Plan loses or terminates its contract with CMS. In the event of plan
termination by CMS, Molina's Dual Options Plan will send CMS approved notices and a description of alternatives for obtaining benefits. The notice will be sent timely, before the termination of the plan; and/or Molina's Dual Options Plan discontinues offering services in specific service areas where the Member resides.
In all circumstances except death, (where DHCS delegates) Molina's Dual Options Plan will provide a written notice to the Member with an explanation of the reason for the disenrollment; otherwise DHCS (or it's designated enrollment vendor) will provide a written notice. All notices will be in compliance with CMS regulations and will be approved by CMS. Each notice will include the process for filing a grievance.
In the event of death, a verification of disenrollment will be sent to the deceased Member's estate.
Provider and or Members may contact our Member Services Department at (855) 665-4627, to discuss enrollment and disenrollment processes and options.
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E. Member Identification Card
F. Verifying Eligibility
Verification of membership and eligibility status is necessary to ensure payment for healthcare services being rendered by the Provider to the Member. Molina's Dual Options strongly encourages Providers to verify eligibility at every visit and especially prior to providing services that require authorization. Possession of the ID card does not guarantee Member eligibility or coverage. It is the responsibility of the Practitioner/Provider to verify the eligibility of the cardholder.
MMP Eligible and Cost-Share: Molina's Dual Options Plan allows only Members who are entitled to full Medicare and Medicaid benefits to enroll in California plans. These Members have $0 copays for Medicare covered services.
To verify eligibility, Providers may use 1-855-665-4627 or visit www.MolinaHealthcare.com.
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5. Benefit Overview
A. Questions about Molina Dual Options Plan Benefits
If there are questions as to whether a service is covered or requires prior authorization, please contact Molina Member Services Department Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. toll free at (855) 665-4627 or 711 for persons with hearing impairments (TTY/TDD).
B. Links to Summaries of Benefits
The following web link provides the 2018 Summary of Benefits for the Molina Dual Options (MMP) plan in California: http://www.MolinaHealthcare.com/members/ca/enUS/mem/duals/resources/info/pages/benefits.aspx
C. Links to Evidence of Coverage
Detailed information about benefits and services can be found in the 2018 Evidence of Coverage booklets sent to each Molina Member.
The following web link provides the Evidence of Coverage for the 2018 Molina Medicare Dual Options (MMP) plan in California: http://www.MolinaHealthcare.com/members/ca/enUS/mem/duals/resources/info/pages/eoc.aspx
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6. Quality Improvement
Molina maintains a Quality Improvement (QI) Department to work with Members and Providers in administering the Molina Medicare-Medicaid Quality Improvement Program. You can contact the Molina QI Department toll free at (800) 526-8196, Ext. 126137
The address for mail requests is: Molina Dual Options Plan - (CA Health Plan) Quality Improvement Department 200 Oceangate, Suite 100 Long Beach, CA 90802
This Provider Manual contains excerpts from the Molina Quality Improvement Program Description (QIPD). For a complete copy, please contact your Provider Services Representative or call the telephone number above.
Molina has established a QIPD that complies with regulatory and accreditation guidelines. The Quality Improvement Program provides structure and outlines specific activities designed to improve the care, service and health of Members.
Molina does not delegate Quality Improvement activities to Medical Groups/Independent Practice Association (IPAs) or delegated entities. However, Molina requires contracted Medical Groups/IPAs and other delegated entities to comply with the following core elements and standards of care and to: Have a quality improvement program in place; Comply with and participate in Molina Medicare-Medicaid's Quality Improvement Program
including reporting of Access and Availability and provision of medical records as part of the quality of care, quality improvement and HEDIS® reporting activities; and, Allow access to Molina QI personnel for site and medical record keeping and documentation practices.
A. Patient Safety Program
Molina Dual Options Plan's Patient Safety Program identifies appropriate safety projects and error avoidance for Molina Dual Options Plan Members in collaboration with their primary care practitioners. Molina continues to support safe personal health practices for our Members through our safety program, pharmaceutical management and case management/disease management programs and education. Molina monitors national recognized quality index ratings for facilities including adverse events, critical incidents, and hospital acquired conditions as part of a national strategy to improve health care quality mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify areas that have the potential for improving health care quality to reduce the incidence of events.
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The Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 mandates that the Office of Inspector General report to Congress regarding the incidence of "never events" among Medicare beneficiaries, the payment for services in connection with such events, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) processes to identify events and deny payment.
B. Quality of Care
Molina has an established and systematic process to identify, investigate, review and report any Quality of Care, Adverse Event/Never Event, and/or service issues affecting Member care. Molina will research, resolve, track and trend issues. Confirmed Adverse Events/Never Events are reportable when related to an error in medical care that is clearly identifiable, preventable and/or found to have caused serious injury or death to a patient. Some examples of never events include: Surgery on the wrong body part. Surgery on the wrong patient. Wrong surgery on a patient.
Molina is not required to pay for inpatient care related to "never events".
C. Medical Records
Molina requires that medical records are maintained in a manner that is current, detailed and organized to ensure that care rendered to Members is consistently documented and that necessary information is accurate and readily available in the medical record. Molina conducts a medical record review of Primary Care Providers (PCPs) that includes the following components: Medical Record Keeping Practices Content Organization Retrieval Confidentiality
1. Medical Record Keeping Practices
Below is a list of the minimum items that are necessary in the maintenance of the Member's medical records: Medical records are stored away from patient areas and preferably locked. Medical records are available at each visit and archived records are available within twenty-
four (24) hours. If hardcopy, pages are securely attached in the medical record and records are organized by
dividers or color-coded when thickness of the record dictates. If electronic, all those with access have individual passwords. Record keeping is monitored for Quality Improvement and HIPPA compliance. Storage maintenance for the determined timeline and disposal per record management
processes.
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Process for archiving medical records and implementing improvement activities. Medical records are kept confidential and there is a process for release of medical records
including behavioral health care records.
2. Content
Providers must demonstrate compliance with Molina's medical record documentation guidelines. Medical records are assessed based on the following standards: Patient name or ID is on all pages. Current biographical data is maintained in the medical record or database. All entries contain author identification. All entries are dated. Problem list, including medical and behavioral health conditions. Presenting complaints,
diagnoses, and treatment plans, including follow-up visits and referrals to other Providers. Allergies and adverse reactions are prominently displayed. Absence of allergies is noted in
easily recognizable location. Advanced Directives are documented for those eighteen (18) years and older. Past medical and surgical history for patients including physical examinations, treatments,
preventive services and risk factors. The history and physical examination identifies appropriate subjective and objective information pertinent to a patient's presenting complaints and provides a risk assessment of the Member's health status. Chronic conditions are listed or noted in easily recognizable location. o Treatment plans are consistent with diagnoses; There is appropriate notation concerning use of substances, and for patients seen three (3) or more times, there is evidence of substance abuse query. Consistent charting of treatment care plan. Working diagnoses are consistent with findings. Encounter notation includes follow up care, call, or return instructions. Preventive health measures (e.g., immunizations, mammograms, etc.) are noted. A system is in place to document telephone contacts. Lab and other studies are ordered as appropriate and filed in medical record. Lab and other studies are initialed by ordering Provider upon review. If patient was referred for consult, therapy, or ancillary service, a report or notation of result is noted at subsequent visit, or filed in medical record. If the Provider admitted a patient to the hospital in the past twelve (12) months, the discharge summary must be filed in the medical record. Documentation of the age-appropriate screenings and preventive immunizations.
3. Organization
The medical record is legible to someone other than the writer. Each patient has an individual record. Chart pages are bound, clipped, or attached to the file.
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Chart sections are easily recognized for retrieval of information. A release document for each Member authorizing Molina to release medical information for
facilitation of medical care.
4. Retrieval
The medical record is available to Provider at each encounter. The medical record is available to Molina for purposes of quality improvement. The medical record is available to External Quality Review Organization upon request. The medical record is available to utilize for HEDIS Quality reporting, NCQA and CMS.
Molina staff may contact providers to request medical records to collect data for HEDIS measure performance, review of members Missing Services or Gaps in Care, and also may request medical records for analytical Risk Adjustment Management Programs. Medical record requests can be submitted or retrieved by paper, electronically and Molina representatives may also be available to pick up, download, or access via EMR system(s) upon approval. Medical record retention process is consistent with State and Federal requirements. An established and functional data recovery procedure in the event of data loss.
5. Confidentiality
Molina Providers shall develop and implement confidentiality procedures to guard Member protected health information, in accordance with HIPAA privacy standards and all other applicable Federal and State regulations. This should include and is not limited to the following: Ensure that medical information is released only in accordance with applicable Federal or
State Law or pursuant to court orders or subpoenas. Maintain records and information in an accurate and timely manner. Ensure timely access by Members to the records and information that pertain to them. Abide by all Federal and State Laws regarding confidentiality and disclosure of medical
records or other health and enrollment information. Medical Records are protected from unauthorized access. Access to computerized confidential information is restricted. Precautions are taken to prevent inadvertent or unnecessary disclosure of protected health
information.
Additional information on medical records is available from your local Molina Dual Options Plan Quality Improvement Department toll free at (800) 526-8196, Ext.126137. See also the Compliance section of this Provider Manual regarding HIPAA.
D. Access to Care
Molina maintains access to care standards and processes for ongoing monitoring of access to health care (including behavioral health care) provided by contracted Primary Care Providers (PCP) (adult and pediatric) and participating specialists (to include OB/GYN, behavioral health
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Providers, and high volume and high impact specialists). Providers are required to conform to the appointment standards listed below to ensure that health care services are provided in a timely manner. The standards are based on ninety percent (90%) availability for Emergency Services and ninety percent (90%) or greater for all other services (these goals may vary by plan). The PCP or his/her designee must be available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week to Members.
1. Appointment Access
All Providers who oversee the Member's health care are responsible for providing the following appointments to Molina Dual Options Plan Members in the timeframes noted:
Primary Care Practitioner (PCP)
Types of Care for
Appointment Wait Time (Appointment Standards)
Appointment
Emergency Care
Immediate
Urgent Care not requiring prior <Within forty-eight (48) hours of the request
authorization
Urgent Care requiring prior
Within ninety-six (96) hours of the request
authorization
Preventive Care Appointment <Within twenty (20) business days of the request
Routine/Urgent Care
<Within ten (10) business days of the request
After Hours Care
After-Hours Instruction/Standards
After hours emergency
Members who call Member Services are instructed if this is
instruction
an emergency, please hang up and dial 911
After-Hours Care
Available by telephone twenty-four (24) hours/seven (7)
days
Timely physician response to Within < thirty (30) minutes
after hour phone calls/pages
Specialty Care Provider (SCP)
Types of Care for
Appointment Wait Time (Appointment Standards)
Appointment
Routine Care/Non-Urgent Care <Within fifteen (15) working days of the request
Urgent Care
<Within forty-eight (48) hours of request
Mental/Behavioral Health
Types of Care for
Appointment Wait Time (Appointment Standards)
Appointment
Non-life Threatening Emergency Within six (6) hours of request
Care
Urgent Care
Within forty-eight (48) hours of request
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Urgent Care Requiring Prior Authorization Routine Care/Non-Urgent Care Ancillary Services Types of Care for Appointment Non-urgent appointment for ancillary services
Within ninety-six (96 hours of request Within ten (10) business days of request Appointment Wait Time (Appointment Standards) Within fifteen (15) business days of the request
Additional information on appointment access standards is available from your local Molina Dual Options Plan QI Department toll free at (800) 526-8196, Ext. 126137.
2. Office Wait Time
For scheduled appointments, the wait time in offices should not exceed thirty (30) minutes from appointment time until the time seen by the PCP. All PCPs are required to monitor waiting times and to adhere to this standard.
3. After Hours
All Providers must have back-up (on call) coverage after hours or during the Provider's absence or unavailability. Molina requires Providers to maintain a twenty-four (24) hour telephone service, seven (7) days a week. This access may be through an answering service or a recorded message after office hours. The service or recorded message should instruct Members with an emergency to hang-up and call 911 or go immediately to the nearest emergency room.
4. Appointment Scheduling
Each Provider must implement an appointment scheduling system. The following are the minimum standards: a. The Provider must have an adequate telephone system to handle patient volume.
Appointment intervals between patients should be based on the type of service provided and a policy defining required intervals for services. Flexibility in scheduling is needed to allow for urgent walk-in appointments; b. A process for documenting missed appointments must be established. When a Member does not keep a scheduled appointment, it is to be noted in the Member's record and the Provider is to assess if a visit is still medically indicated. All efforts to notify the Member must be documented in the medical record. If a second appointment is missed, the Provider is to notify the Molina Dual Options Plan Member Services Department toll free at (855) 665-4627 or 711 for TTY/TDD; c. When the Provider must cancel a scheduled appointment, the Member is given the option of seeing an associate or having the next available appointment time; d. Special needs of Members must be accommodated when scheduling appointments. This includes, but is not limited to wheelchair-bound Members and Members requiring language translation;
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e. A process for Member notification of preventive care appointments must be established. This includes, but is not limited to, immunizations and mammograms; and,
f. A process must be established for Member recall in the case of missed appointments for a condition which requires treatment, abnormal diagnostic test results or the scheduling of procedures which must be performed prior to the next visit.
In applying the standards listed above, participating Providers have agreed that they will not discriminate against any Member on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical, mental or sensory handicap, gender identity, pregnancy, sex stereotyping, place of residence, socioeconomic status, or status as a recipient of Medicaid benefits. Additionally, a participating Provider or contracted Medical Group/IPA may not limit his/her practice because of a Member's medical (physical or mental) condition or the expectation for the need of frequent or high cost care. If a PCP chooses to close his/her panel to new Members, Molina must receive thirty (30) days advance written notice from the Provider.
5. Women's Health Access
Molina allows Members the option to seek obstetrical and gynecological care from an innetwork obstetrician or gynecologist or directly from a participating PCP designated by Molina as providing obstetrical and gynecological services. Member access to obstetrical and gynecological services is monitored to ensure Members have direct access to Participating Providers for obstetrical and gynecological services. Gynecological services must be provided when requested regardless of the gender status of the Member.
Additional information on access to care is available under the Resources tab available from your local Molina Dual Options Plan Quality Improvement Department toll free at (800) 526-8196, Ext.126137.
6. Monitoring Access for Compliance with Standards
Molina monitors compliance with the established access standards above. At least annually, Molina conducts an access audit of randomly selected contracted Provider offices to determine if appointment access standards are met. One or all of the following appointment scenarios may be addressed: routine care; acute care; preventive care; and after-hours information. Results of the audit are distributed to the Providers after its completion. A corrective action plan may be required if standards are not met.
In addition, Molina Dual Options Plan's Member Services Department reviews Member inquiry logs and grievances related to delays in access to care. These are reported quarterly to committees. Delays in access that may create a potential quality issue are sent to the QI Department for review.
Additional information on access to care is available under the Resources tab available from your local Molina Dual Options Plan Quality Improvement Department toll free at (800) 526-8196, Ext. 126137.
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E. Quality of Provider Office Sites
Molina has a process to ensure that the offices of all Providers meet its office-site standards. Molina continually monitors Member complaints/grievances for all office sites to determine the need of an office site visit and will conduct office site visits within sixty (60) calendar days. Molina assesses the quality, safety and accessibility of office sites where care is delivered against standards and thresholds. A standard survey form is completed at the time of each visit. This form includes the Office Site Review Guidelines and the Medical Record Keeping Practice Guidelines (as outlined above under "Medical Record Keeping Practices") and the thresholds for acceptable performance against the criteria. This includes an assessment of: Physical Accessibility Physical Appearance Adequacy of Waiting and Examining Room Space Adequacy of Medical/Treatment Record Keeping
Physical Accessibility
Molina evaluates office sites to ensure that Members have safe and appropriate access to the office site. This includes, but is not limited to, ease of entry into the building, accessibility of space within the office site, and ease of access for physically disabled patients.
Physical Appearance
The site visits includes, but is not limited to, an evaluation of office site cleanliness, appropriateness of lighting, and patient safety.
Adequacy of Waiting and Examining Room Space
During the site visit, Molina assesses waiting and examining room spaces to ensure that the office offers appropriate accommodations to Members. The evaluation includes, but is not limited to, appropriate seating in the waiting room areas and availability of exam tables in exam rooms.
Adequacy of Medical Record-Keeping Practices
During the site-visit, Molina discusses office documentation practices with the Provider's staff. This discussion includes a review of the forms and methods used to keep the information in a consistent manner and includes how the practice ensures confidentiality of records. Molina assesses one (1) medical/treatment record for the areas described under "Medical Record Keeping Practices." To ensure Member confidentiality, Molina reviews a "blinded" medical/treatment record or a "model" record instead of an actual record.
F. Monitoring Office Site Review Guidelines and Compliance Standards
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Provider office sites must demonstrate an overall eighty percent (80%) compliance with the "Office Site Review Guidelines" listed above. If a serious deficiency is noted during the review but the office demonstrates overall compliance, a follow-up review may be required at the discretion of the Site Reviewer to ensure correction of the deficiency.
Administration & Confidentiality of Facilities
Facilities contracted with Molina must demonstrate an overall compliance with the guidelines listed below: Patient check-in systems are confidential. Signatures on fee slips, separate forms, stickers or
labels are possible alternative methods. Confidential information is discussed away from patients. When reception areas are
unprotected by sound barriers, scheduling and triage phones are best placed at another location. Medical records are stored away from patient areas. Record rooms and/or file cabinets are preferably locked. A CLIA waiver is displayed when the appropriate lab work is run in the office. Prescription pads are not kept in exam rooms. Narcotics are locked, preferably double locked. Medication and sample access is restricted. System in place to ensure expired sample medications are not dispensed and injectables and emergency medication are checked monthly for outdates. Drug refrigerator temperatures are documented daily. Office appearance demonstrates that housekeeping and maintenance are performed appropriately on a regular basis, the waiting room is well-lit, office hours are posted and parking area and walkways demonstrate appropriate maintenance. Handicapped parking is available, the building and exam rooms are accessible with an incline ramp or flat entryway, and the restroom is handicapped accessible with a bathroom grab bar. Adequate seating includes space for an average number of patients in an hour and there is a minimum of two (2) office exam rooms per physician. Basic emergency equipment is located in an easily accessible area. This includes a pocket mask and Epinephrine, plus any other medications appropriate to the practice. At least one (1) CPR certified employee is available. Yearly OSHA training (Fire, Safety, Blood borne Pathogens, etc.) is documented for offices with ten (10) or more employees. A container for sharps is located in each room where injections are given. Labeled containers, policies, and contracts evidence hazardous waste management.
Improvement Plans/Corrective Action Plans
If the medical group does not achieve the required compliance with the site review standards and/or the medical record keeping practices review standards, the Site Reviewer will do all of the following: Send a letter to the Provider that identifies the compliance issues.
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Send sample forms and other information to assist the Provider to achieve a passing score on the next review.
Request the Provider to submit a written corrective action plan to Molina within thirty (30) calendar days.
Send notification that another review will be conducted of the office in six (6) months.
When compliance is not achieved, the Provider will be required to submit a written corrective action plan (CAP) to Molina within thirty (30) calendar days of notification by Molina. The request for a CAP will be sent certified mail, return receipt requested. This improvement plan should be submitted by the office manager or Provider and must include the expected time frame for completion of activities.
Additional reviews are conducted at the office at six (6) month intervals until compliance is achieved. At each follow-up visit a full assessment is done to ensure the office meets performance standards. The information and any response made by the Provider is included in the Providers permanent credentials file and reported to the Credentialing Committee on the watch status report. If compliance is not attained at follow-up visits, an updated CAP will be required.
Providers who do not submit a CAP may be terminated from network participation. Any further action is conducted in accordance with the Molina Fair Hearing Plan policy.
G. Advance Directives (Patient Self-Determination Act)
Molina complies with the advance directives requirements of the states in which the organization provides services. Responsibilities include ensuring members receive information regarding advance directives and that Contracted Providers and facilities uphold executed documents.
Advance Directives are a written choice for health care. There are three (3) types of Advance Directives: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: Allows an agent to be appointed to carry out
health care decisions. Living Will: Allows choices about withholding or withdrawing life support and accepting or
refusing nutrition and/or hydration. Guardian Appointment: Allows one to nominate someone to be appointed as Guardian if a
court determines that a guardian is necessary
When There Is No Advance Directive: The Member's family and Provider will work together to decide on the best care for the Member based on information they may know about the Member's end-of-life plans.
Providers must inform adult Molina Members (eighteen [18] years old and up) of their right to make health care decisions and execute Advance Directives. It is important that Members are informed about Advance Directives.
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New adult Members or their identified personal representative will receive educational information and instructions on how to access advance directives forms in their Member Handbook, Evidence of Coverage (EOC) and other Member communications such as newsletters and the Molina website. If a Member is incapacitated at the time of enrollment, Molina will provide advance directive information to the Member's family or representative, and will follow up with information to the Member at the appropriate time. All current Members will receive annual notice explaining this information, in addition to newsletter information. Members who would like more information are instructed to contact Member Services or are directed to the Caring Connections website at http://www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload for forms available to download. Additionally, the Molina website offers information to both Providers and Members regarding advance directives, with a link to forms that can be downloaded and printed.
PCPs must discuss Advance Directives with a Member and provide appropriate medical advice if the Member desires guidance or assistance.
Molina network Providers and facilities are expected to communicate any objections they may have to a Member directive prior to service when possible. Members may select a new PCP if the assigned Provider has an objection to the Member's desired decision. Molina will facilitate finding a new PCP or specialist as needed.
In no event may any Provider refuse to treat a Member or otherwise discriminate against a Member because the Member has completed an Advance Directive. CMS Law gives Members the right to file a complaint with Molina or the State survey and certification agency if the Member is dissatisfied with Molina's handling of Advance Directives and/or if a Provider fails to comply with Advance Directives instructions.
Molina will notify the Provider via fax of an individual Member's Advance Directives identified through care management, Care Coordination or Care Management. Providers are instructed to document the presence of an Advance Directive in a prominent location of the Medical Record. Auditors will also look for copies of the Advance Directive form. Advance Directives forms are state specific to meet State regulations.
Molina will look for documented evidence of the discussion between the Provider and the Member during routine Medical Record reviews.
H. Quality Improvement Activities and Programs
Molina maintains an active Quality Improvement Program (QIP). The QIP provides structure and key processes to carry out our ongoing commitment to improvement of care and service. The goals identified are based on an evaluation of programs and services; regulatory, contractual and accreditation requirements; and strategic planning initiatives.
Health Management
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The Molina Disease Management Program provides for the identification, assessment, stratification and implementation of appropriate interventions for Members with chronic diseases. For additional information please see the Health Management section under the Healthcare Services section of this Provider Manual.
Care Management
Molina's Care Management Programs involve collaborative processes aimed at meeting an individual's health needs, promoting quality of life, and obtaining best possible care outcomes to meet the Member's needs so they receive the right care, at the right time, and at the right setting. Molina Care Management includes Health Management (HM) and Case Management (CM) programs. Members may qualify for HM or CM based on confirmed diagnosis or specified criteria for the programs. These comprehensive programs are available for all Members that meet the criteria for services. For additional information please see the Care Management section under the Healthcare Services section of this Provider Manual.
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Molina adopts and disseminates Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) to reduce inter-Provider variation in diagnosis and treatment. CPG adherence is measured at least annually. All guidelines are based on scientific evidence, review of medical literature and/or appropriate established authority. Clinical Practice Guidelines are reviewed annually and are updated as new recommendations are published.
Molina Clinical Practice Guidelines include the following: Asthma Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Depression Diabetes Heart Failure Hypertension Obesity
Additional Clinical Practice Guidelines may include: Chlamydia Cholesterol Adult Cholesterol Pediatric CVD: Secondary Prevention for Patients with Coronary and other Vascular Disease Gestational Diabetes Low Back Pain Routine Prenatal Care Upper respiratory Infection (URI)/Bronchitis/Pharyngitis
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Additionally, Molina participates in the Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium (MQIC group). MQIC began in 1999 with the goal of improving health care outcomes through the development of clinical practice guidelines that are common among Michigan State health plans.
A link to the MQIC guidelines is available at: http://www.MolinaHealthcare.com/providers/mi/medicaid/resource/Pages/guide_clinical.aspx.
The adopted Clinical Practice Guidelines are distributed to the appropriate Providers, Provider groups, staff model facilities, delegates and Members by the Quality Improvement, Provider Services, Health Education and Member Services departments. The guidelines are disseminated through Provider newsletters, Just the Fax electronic bulletins and other media and are available on the Molina Website. Individual Providers or Members may request copies from your local Molina QI Department toll free at (800) 526-8196, Ext. 126137.
Preventive Health Guidelines
Molina provides coverage of diagnostic preventive procedures based on recommendations published by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and in accordance with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines. Diagnostic preventive procedures include but are not limited to: Perinatal/Prenatal Care Care for children up to twenty-four (24) months old. Care for children up to two to nineteen (2-19) years old. Care for adults twenty to sixty-four (20-64) years old. Care for adults sixty-five (65) years old and older. Immunization schedules for children and adolescents. Immunization schedules for adults.
All guidelines are updated with each release by USPSTF and are approved by the Clinical Quality Improvement Committee. On an annual basis, Preventive Health Guidelines are distributed to Providers via the Molina website, www.MolinaHealthcare.com, and the Provider Manual. Notification of the availability of the Preventive Health Guidelines is published in the Molina Provider Newsletter.
Cultural and Linguistic Services
Molina works to ensure all Members receive culturally competent care across the service continuum to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes. For additional information about Molina's program and services, please see the Cultural Competency and Linguistic Services section of this Provider Manual.
I. Measurement of Clinical and Service Quality
Molina monitors and evaluates the quality of care and services provided to
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Members through the following mechanisms: Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®); Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®); Health Outcomes Survey (HOS); Provider Satisfaction Survey; and, Effectiveness of Quality Improvement Initiatives.
Molina evaluates continuous performance according to, or in comparison with objectives, measurable performance standards and benchmarks at the national, regional and/or at the local/health plan level.
Contracted Providers and Facilities must allow Molina to use its performance data collected in accordance with the Provider's or facility's contract. The use of performance data may include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) development of Quality Improvement activities; (2) public reporting to consumers; (3) preferred status designation in the network; (4) and/or reduced Member cost sharing.
Molina's most recent results can be obtained from your local Molina QI Department toll free at (800) 526-8196, Ext. 126137.
Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®)
Molina utilizes the NCQA© HEDIS® as a measurement tool to provide a fair and accurate assessment of specific aspects of managed care organization performance. HEDIS® is an annual activity conducted in the spring. The data comes from on-site medical record review and available administrative data. All reported measures must follow rigorous specifications and are externally audited to assure continuity and comparability of results. The HEDIS® measurement set currently includes a variety of health care aspects including immunizations, women's health screening, diabetes care, glaucoma screening, medication use and cardiovascular disease.
HEDIS® results are used in a variety of ways. They are the measurement standard for many of Molina's clinical quality improvement activities and health improvement programs. The standards are based on established clinical guidelines and protocols, providing a firm foundation to measure the success of these programs.
Selected HEDIS® results are provided to regulatory and accreditation agencies as part of our contracts with these agencies. The data are also used to compare to established health plan performance benchmarks.
Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®)
CAHPS® is the tool used by Molina to summarize Member satisfaction with the health care and service they receive. CAHPS® examines specific measures, including Getting Needed Care, Getting Appointments and Care Quickly, Doctors Who Communicate Well, Care Coordination, Customer Service, and Getting Needed Prescription Drugs. The CAHPS® survey is administered
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annually in the spring to randomly selected Members by an approved Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan (MA & PDP) survey vendor.
CAHPS® results are used in much the same way as HEDIS® results, only the focus is on the service aspect of care rather than clinical activities. They form the basis for several of Molina's quality improvement activities and are used by external agencies to help ascertain the quality of services being delivered.
Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS)
The HOS measures Medicare Members' physical and mental health status over a two (2)-year period and categorizes the two (2)- year change scores as better, same, or worse than expected. The goal of the HOS is to gather valid, reliable, clinically meaningful data that can be used to target quality improvement activities and resources, monitor health plan performance and reward top performing health plans. Additionally, the HOS is used to inform beneficiaries of their healthcare choices, advance the science of functional health outcomes measurement, and for quality improvement interventions and strategies.
Provider Satisfaction Survey
Recognizing that HEDIS® and CAHPS® both focus on Member experience with health care Providers and health plans, Molina conducts a Provider Satisfaction Survey annually. The results from this survey are very important to Molina, as this is one of the primary methods used to identify improvement areas pertaining to the Molina Provider Network. The survey results have helped establish improvement activities relating to Molina's specialty network, inter-Provider communications, and pharmacy authorizations. This survey is fielded to a random sample of Providers each year. If your office is selected to participate, please take a few minutes to complete and return the survey.
Effectiveness of Quality Improvement Initiatives
Molina monitors the effectiveness of clinical and service activities through metrics selected to demonstrate clinical outcomes and service levels. The plan's performance is compared to that of available national benchmarks indicating "best practices." The evaluation includes an assessment of clinical and service improvements on an ongoing basis. Results of these measurements guide activities for the successive periods.
In addition to the methods described above, Molina also compiles complaint and appeals data as well as on requests for out-of-network services to determine opportunities for service improvements.
Medicare Star Ratings The Affordable Care Act
With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the health care industry will be subject to greater scrutiny wherever taxpayer dollars are involved. One method of oversight is Medicare "Star
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Ratings." Star ratings are not new, but in the current regulatory climate, value-based payment will be receiving more focus.
Star Ratings are a system of measurements CMS uses to determine how well physicians and health plans are providing care to Medicare Members. This system is based on nationallyrecognized quality goals such as "The Triple Aim" and the Institute of Medicine's "Six Aims," which focus on improving the health and care of your patients, safe and effective care, as well as making care affordable. These aims are realized through specific measures.
Preventive Health: Annual Wellness/Physical Exams Mammography Osteoporosis Influenza and Pneumonia Immunizations
Chronic Care Management: Diabetes management screenings. Cardiovascular and hypertension management screenings. Medication adherence for chronic conditions. Rheumatoid arthritis management.
Member Satisfaction Survey Questions: "...rate your satisfaction with your personal doctor" "...rate your satisfaction with getting needed appointments"
What Can Providers Do?
Ensure patients are up-to-date with their annual physical exam and preventive health screenings, including related lab orders and referrals to specialists, such as ophthalmology.
Review the HEDIS® preventive care listing of measures for each patient to determine if anything applicable to your patients' age and/or condition has been missed.
Check that staff is properly coding all services provided; and, Be sure patients understand what they need to do.
Molina has additional resources to assist Providers and their patients. For access to tools that can assist, please go to www.MolinaHealthcare.com and click on Providers. There is a variety of resources, including: HEDIS® CPT/ICD-10 code sheet. A current list of HEDIS® & CAHPS® Star Ratings measures.
HEDIS® and CAHPS® are registered trademarks of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
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7. Healthcare Services
Utilization Management
Molina maintains a Utilization Management (UM) Department to work with Members and Providers in administering the Molina Utilization Management Program. You can contact the Molina UM Department toll free. Prior Authorization - Phone: (855) 322-4075 Inpatient/Continued Stay - Phone: 844-557-8434 24/7 including Afterhours, Weekends,
Holidays.
Molina accepts fax authorization requests: Inpatient Review Medicare Fax: (866) 472-0596 Prior Authorization Medicare Fax: (844) 251-1450
Molina's Nurse Advice Line is available to Members and Providers twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week at (888) 275-8750. Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) are notified via fax of all Nurse Advice Line encounters.
This Molina Provider Manual contains excerpts from Molina's Healthcare Services Program Description. For a complete copy of your state's Healthcare Services Program Description you can access the Molina website at www.MolinaHealthcare.com or contact the UM Department telephone number above to receive a written copy. You can always find more information about Molina's UM including information about obtaining a copy of clinical criteria used for authorizations and how to contact a UM reviewer on Molina's website by accessing www.MolinaHealthcare.com or calling the UM Department at the number listed above.
Molina's UM Department is designed to provide comprehensive health care management. This focus, from prevention through treatment, benefits the entire care delivery system by effectively and efficiently managing existing resources to ensure quality care. It also ensures that care is both medically necessary and demonstrates an appropriate use of resources based on the severity of illness and the site of service. Molina works in partnership with Members and Providers to promote a seamless delivery of health care services. Molina's managed care programs balance a combination of benefit design, reimbursement structure, information analysis and feedback, consumer education, and active intervention that manages cost and improves quality. Molina maintains a medical management program to ensure patient safety as well as detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in its programs. The Molina medical management program also ensures that Molina only reimburses for services identified as a covered benefit and medically necessary. Elements of the Molina medical management program include medical necessity review, prior authorization, inpatient management and restrictions on the use of non-network Providers.
Medical Groups/IPAs and delegated entities who assume responsibility for UM must adhere to Molina's UM Policies. Their programs, policies and supporting documentation are reviewed by Molina at least annually.
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Care Access and Monitoring
Molina has identified a new title for its Utilization Management program Care Access and Monitoring to reflect the important role this process plays in Molina's new HCS program. Molina's Care Access and Monitoring program ensures that care is medically necessary and demonstrates an appropriate use of resources based on the levels of care needed for a Member. This program promotes the provision of quality, cost-effective and medically appropriate services that are offered across a continuum of care, integrating a range of services appropriate to meet individual needs. It maintains flexibility to adapt to changes as necessary and is designed to influence Member's care by: Identify medical necessity and appropriateness to ensure efficiency of the health care services
provided; Continually monitor, evaluate and optimize the use of health care resources while evaluating
the necessity and efficiency of health care services; Coordinating, directing, and monitoring the quality and cost effectiveness of health care
resource utilization while monitoring utilization practice patterns of providers, hospitals and ancillary Providers to identify over and under service utilization; Identify and assess the need for Care Management/Health Management through early identification of high or low service utilization and high cost, chronic or long term diseases; Promote health care in accordance with local, State and national standards; Identify events and patterns of care in which outcomes may be improved through efficiencies in UM, and to implement actions that improve performance by ensuring care is safe and accessible; Ensuring that qualified health care professionals perform all components of the UM/CM processes while ensuring timely responses to Member appeals and grievances; Continually seek to improve Member and Provider satisfaction with health care and with Molina utilization processes while ensuring that UM decision tools are appropriately applied in determining medical necessity decision; Coordinate services between the Members Medicare and Medicaid benefits when applicable; Process authorization requests timely and with adherence to all regulatory and accreditation timeliness standards.
Medical Necessity Review
Molina only reimburses for services that are Medically Necessary. To determine Medical Necessity, in conjunction with independent professional medical judgment, Molina will use nationally recognized guidelines, which include but are not limited to, MCG (formerly known as Milliman Care Guidelines), Interqual®, other third party guidelines, CMS guidelines, guidelines from recognized professional societies, and advice from authoritative review articles and textbooks. Medical Necessity review may take place prospectively, as part of the inpatient admission notification/concurrent review, or retrospectively.
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Clinical Information
Molina requires copies of clinical information be submitted for documentation in all medical necessity determination processes. Clinical information includes but is not limited to; physician emergency department notes, inpatient history/physical exams, discharge summaries, physician progress notes, physician office notes, physician orders, nursing notes, results of laboratory or imaging studies, therapy evaluations and therapist notes. Molina does not accept clinical summaries, telephone summaries or inpatient case manager criteria reviews as meeting the clinical information requirements unless required by Federal regulation or the Molina Hospital or Provider Services Agreement.
Prior Authorization
Molina requires prior authorization for specified services as long as the requirement complies with Federal or State regulations and the Molina Hospital or Provider Services Agreement. The list of services that require prior authorization is available in narrative form, along with a more detailed list by CPT and HCPCS codes. Molina prior authorization documents are updated annually, or more frequently as appropriate, and the current documents are posted on the Molina website.
Requests for prior authorizations to the UM Department may be made by telephone, fax, mail based on the urgency of the requested service, or via the Provider Portal.
Providers are encouraged to use the Molina Prior Authorization Form provided on the Molina web site. If using a different form, the Provider is required to supply the following information, as applicable, for the requested service: Member demographic information (Name, DOB, ID #, etc.). Clinical information sufficient to document the Medical Necessity of the requested services Provider demographic information (Referring Provider and referred to Provider/facility). Requested service/procedure (including specific CPT/HCPCS and ICD-10 Codes). Location where the service will be performed. Member diagnosis (CMS-approved diagnostic and procedure code and descriptions). Pertinent medical history (include treatment, diagnostic tests, examination data). Requested length of stay (for inpatient requests). Indicate if request is for expedited or standard processing.
Services performed without authorization may not be eligible for payment. Services provided emergently (as defined by Federal and State Law) are excluded from the prior authorization requirements.
Molina will process any non-urgent requests within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of request. Urgent requests will be processed within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of request.
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Upon approval, the requestor will receive an authorization number. The number may be provided by telephone or fax. If a request is denied, the requestor and the Member will receive a letter explaining the reason for the denial and additional information regarding the grievance and appeals process. Denials also are communicated to the Provider by telephone if at all possible or by fax with confirmation of receipt if telephonic communication fails. Verbal and fax notification of denials are given within seventy-two (72) hours for expedited Medicare requests and fourteen (14) days for standard Medicare requests The written letter is mailed at the time the denial is issued.
Molina abides by CMS rules and regulations for all pre-service requests and will allow a Peer-toPeer conversation in limited circumstances. While the request for an Organization Determination (service) is being reviewed but prior to
a final determination being rendered. While an appeal of an Organizational Determination (service) is being reviewed. Before a determination has been made, if the Molina Medical Director believes that a
discussion with the requesting physician would assist Molina in reaching a favorable determination (within the obligatory timeframes stated above for a standard or expedited request).
Medicare says that if Molina, being a Medicare Advantage plan, decides to not provide or pay for a requested service, in whole or in part, then an Adverse Organization Determination (denial) has occurred and we must issue a written denial notice. Once the notice has been mailed or faxed to you or the Member, or Molina has phoned the Member and/or you advising that there has been an Adverse Organization Determination (denial), the appeals process then becomes available to you.
If you wish to dispute Molina's Adverse Organization Determination (denial) we may only process the request by following the Standard or Expedited appeal process. This means that if you contact Molina to request a Peer-to-Peer review, we will advise that you must follow the rules for requesting a Medicare appeal. Refer to the Complaints, Grievance and Appeals of this Provider Manual.
Requesting Prior Authorization
The most current Prior Authorization Guidelines and Prior Authorization Request Form can be found on the Molina website.
a. Provider Portal: Providers are encouraged to use the Molina Provider Portal for prior authorization submission. Instructions for how to submit a Prior Authorization Request are available on the Molina Provider Portal.
b. Fax: The Prior Authorization form can be faxed to Molina. If the request is not on the form provided by Molina, be sure to send to the attention of the Healthcare Services Department. Please indicate on the fax if the request is urgent or non-urgent. The Definition of expedited/urgent is when the situation where the standard time frame or decision making process (up to fourteen [14] days per Molina's process) could seriously
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jeopardize the life or health of the enrollee, or could jeopardize the enrollee's ability to regain maximum function. Please include the supporting documentation needed for Molina to make a determination along with the request to facilitate your request being made as expeditiously as possible. c. Phone: Prior Authorizations can be initiated by contacting Molina's Healthcare Services Department. It may be necessary to submit additional documentation before the authorization can be processed.
Provider Portal
Providers are encouraged to use the Provider Portal for prior authorization submission. The benefits of submitting your prior authorization request through the Provider Portal are: Create and submit Prior Authorization Requests. Check status of Authorization Requests. Receive notification of change in status of Authorization Requests. Attach medical documentation required for timely medical review and decision making.
Service Request Form (SRF)
The SRF must be completed and an authorization obtained for all services requiring prior authorization before the service is provided, except in emergencies. Services provided emergently (as defined by Federal and State law) are excluded from the prior authorization requirements. A thoroughly completed SRF is essential to assure a prompt authorization. All shaded areas are to be completed by the referring/ordering entity. A copy of pertinent clinical notes, labs, imaging, etc. may be attached and substituted for the
Clinical History segment of the SRF. To assure maximum benefit from a referral, the requesting Provider must clearly state the
purpose of the service request. The form should be transmitted via Provider Portal, or fax to Central Program Prior
Authorization Department at (844) 251-1450 for pre-service authorization review.
Health plan coverage is not authorized until the request has been reviewed and approved by Molina. Services performed without authorization may not be eligible for payment. Molina does not "retroactively" authorize services that require prior authorization.
Primary Care Practitioners (PCPs)
The PCP is always the initial source of care for Members. A Member may see the PCP without a referral and the PCP may perform essential services in the office environment.
Elective office procedures performed by the PCPs may require authorization. PCPs are able to refer a Member to a contracted specialist for consultation and treatment without a referral request
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to Molina. This includes consultation and treatment for Members with chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment.
Referrals to specialty care Providers outside of the network require prior authorization.
Inpatient Admission and Continued Stay
In accordance with MHC Provider service agreements, Practitioners shall submit requests for Prior Authorization of elective inpatient services to MHC's Utilization Management (UM) Department using the Service Authorization Form for elective admissions.
Emergent services do not require MHC prior authorization. However, the admitting Practitioner and/or admitting facility is required to notify the MHC UM Department, via fax number (866) 472-0596 of an emergent admission within twenty-four (24) hours.
In accordance with the MHC Hospital Services Agreement, participating facilities shall notify MHC via the 1-800 phone numbers on Member's identification card to verify eligibility, covered services and authorization for hospital services within twenty-four (24) hours for all elective and urgent admissions
Upon receipt of notification of admission a reference number will be assigned. Upon completion of Molina review and decision the reference number will become the authorization number or denial number.
When UM staff receive request for post-admission authorization for emergent inpatient admissions, the UM staff will confirm the Member's eligibility and benefit coverage for the admission. Subsequent continued stay authorization decisions are made by the UM Care Review Clinician (CRC) or Molina Medical Directors.
In the event MHC is not notified of an emergency admission, in accordance with MHC's policies and procedures, MHC may require retrospective review and apply standardized criteria to deny non-medically necessary care.
The Molina UM staff shall request medical records be submitted to Molina UM department within twenty-four (24) hours of notification of all inpatient admissions. An extension may be made for receipt of medical records, however a decision must be made within 72 hours of notification of admission.
Initial Clinical Review Checklist: ER Report History and Physical Admitting Orders Specialty Consultations Supporting Clinical Documentation
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If applicable, a copy of the admitting face sheet is faxed to the Member's IPA/MG and PCP by Molina UM staff to facilitate continuity of care.
All initial inpatient admission reviews will be performed, and decision documented within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of notification. Continued stay reviews will be performed daily for per-diem contracted rates. A minimum review will be performed every seven (7) days for DRG contracted rates.
Continued Inpatient Stay Clinical Review Checklist: Physician Orders Specialty Consultations Supporting Clinical Documentation
Reconsideration
Medicare does not allow a reconsideration process.
Readmission Policy
Hospital readmissions within thirty (30) days have been found by CMS to potentially constitute a quality of care problem. Readmission review is an important part of MHC's Quality Improvement Program to ensure that Molina Members are receiving hospital care that is compliant with nationally recognized guidelines, Medicare regulations, State Medicaid regulations and CMS. MHC will review all hospital subsequent admissions that occur within thirty (30) days of the previous discharge.
Hospital readmissions less than thirty-one (31) calendar days from the date of discharge have been found by CMS to potentially constitute a quality of care problem. Readmission review is an important part of Molina's Quality Improvement Program to ensure that Molina Members are receiving hospital care that is compliant with nationally recognized guidelines, as well as Federal and State regulations.
Molina will conduct readmission reviews for applicable participating hospitals if both admissions occur at the same facility. If it is determined that the subsequent admission is related to the first admission (Readmission), the first payment may be considered as payment in full for both the first and second hospital admissions. Readmission reviews will be conducted in accordance with CMS guidelines.
Skilled Nursing or Rehabilitation Facility Review
All admissions to SNF and Acute Rehab Facilities require authorization by the MHC UM Department. Molina will review requests according to health plan approved procedures and utilization decision-making criteria.
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Appropriately licensed health professionals, e.g., Registered Nurse - RN, or Licensed Vocational Nurse LVN, supervise all medical necessity decisions and have qualified personnel responsible for each level of utilization management (UM) decision making. Appropriate health plan personnel have authority to review and approve requests at each of these levels. Only the physicians with current, unrestricted, California licenses may issue denials, modifications, or terminations (suspensions, or reductions of the level of treatment or services currently in process) of referral for authorizations. Molina Healthcare considers a "qualified licensed health care professional" as a licensed professional (e.g., MD or DO, dentist, psychiatrist, pharmacist (R.Ph. or PharmD for pharmaceuticals only) with appropriate clinical expertise in treating the medical or behavioral health condition and disease or MLTSS needs.
Molina Healthcare of California (MHC) subcontracted Plan Partner and Independent Practice Association (IPA) Medical Group contracts financial responsibility matrices, and UM Delegation agreements identify referral authorization responsibility for MHC and the delegated entity.
Case Investigation
Molina UM staff will determine Member eligibility If the Member is eligible, UM staff will determine if the requested service or item is a
covered benefit. If the service or item requested is not a covered benefit, the case will be denied due to the service or item not being a covered benefit. If the Member is eligible and the service or item is a covered benefit, UM staff will proceed with steps necessary to complete a review for medical necessity.
UM staff will determine medical records necessary for the review of the request. Records may be requested from Providers depending on the nature of the case. When requests are received without the required documentation to make a determination, UM staff will make at least three (3) attempts to obtain additional information.
Requests are made by return fax or phone call to the requesting Provider. If necessary, Molina UM staff may call or request information from other involved Providers. The Molina UM staff may consult with the Molina Medical Director regarding what additional information to request for completing the authorization review process. The Molina Medical Director may initiate contact with the requesting Provider to request additional information and/or discuss Member's plan of care when deemed appropriate.
For urgent cases, requests for records from Providers are made no later than twenty-four (24) hours from the date and time the request was received.
Services not Requiring Prior Authorization
Some services have been designated by Molina as not requiring prior authorization. The services must be performed by appropriate types of Providers who participate with Molina and the request must be clearly defined (e.g., specified by recognized CPT or HCPCS codes with an
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appropriate diagnosis and diagnosis code). Care Review Processors or Care Review Clinicians will inform the Provider the service does not require a prior authorization. MHC may never require authorization for the following services: Emergency Room including emergency behavioral health care Urgent Care Services including urgent care crisis stabilization, including mental health Nurse midwife services Family Planning Services Preventive Care Basic OB/Prenatal Care Sexually Transmitted Disease HIV Testing & Counseling
o Sensitive and confidential services (e.g., services related to sexual assault, abortion services, drug and alcohol abuse for children aged twelve [12] or over)
Therapeutic and elective pregnancy termination Annual Well Woman Exam Optometry and diabetic retinal exam
Medical Policy
Molina UM Staff will review requests according to health plan approved procedures and utilization decision-making criteria. Molina uses written criteria or guidelines for utilization review that are based on sound medical evidence, are updated regularly, and are reviewed and approved annually or more frequently if necessary, by the MHC Health Care Services Committee (HCSC) or the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee. CMS and state regulations, policies, and benefit guidance will be used as well as nationally accepted clinical criteria. If the information submitted meets the defined criteria, HCS staff may approve coverage for the services without Medical Director or consulting physician review. If an approval decision cannot be made, the request is forwarded to a Molina Medical Director or an appropriate health professional. (e.g., behavioral health clinician or pharmacist) for review and determination.
Applying Criteria
Consideration of individual patient needs or capabilities of the local health care delivery system Practitioners are encouraged to identify special patient needs and unique capabilities or limitations of the local delivery system. By definition, such situations do not allow approval by general guidelines, so a Medical Director, consulting physician, a licensed psychiatrist or Pharmacy professional reviews these situations, giving special consideration to patient and delivery system concerns.
Same or Similar Specialty
Some requests require review by a physician, pharmacist, dentist, or behavioral health professional. These health professionals may seek specialist consultation at any time if the review requires consultation with a health care professional with the same or similar specialty
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appropriate for the review of the request. Consulting specialists will have board certification or training and experience appropriate to the clinical domain of the request being reviewed.
Denials
Only licensed, qualified health professionals (e.g., MD or DO, dentist, pharmacist (R.Ph. or Pharm.D. for pharmaceuticals only), are responsible for the review of cases regarding medical necessity and/or appropriateness that the UM staff cannot approve, and are responsible for and may render denial determinations. Written notification of an adverse benefit determination will include the utilization review criteria or benefits provisions used in the adverse benefit determination, identify the qualified healthcare professional who rendered the adverse benefit determination, and are signed by an authorized representative of the organization or the physician who rendered the adverse benefit determination. The written notification will also include the appeal process.
Turn Around Timeframes
Authorization requests may be "standard/non urgent" or "expedited/ urgent." Standard reviews include non-urgent pre-service reviews, and post-service reviews. Expedited reviews include urgent pre-service reviews and urgent "emergent" inpatient reviews:
UM Decision Needed Standard (non-expedited) Preservice Determinations
Expedited Determination *Emergent Inpatient Review Emergency Care Post Service/Retrospective
Decision Time Frame Within fourteen (14) business days of receiving the medical record information required to evaluate the medical necessity and appropriateness, but no longer than fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the request Within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of the request Within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of request No Prior Authorization is Required Within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of request
*For emergent inpatient reviews, Molina's routine practice is to place an automatic extension for the timeliness standards. This practice puts the decision time frame from "within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of request" up to seventy-two (72) hours for the extension.
Pre-Service Reviews (Standard and Emergent)
Molina will provide notice of the review decision as expeditiously as the Member's health condition requires, but no later than the specified timeframes.
An expedited authorization review may be requested by a Member or the Member's Provider, or may be initiated by Molina. The criteria for an expedited review are when application of the time periods for making non-urgent care determinations could:
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Seriously jeopardize the Member's life or health; Seriously jeopardize the Member's ability to attain, maintain, or regain maximum function,
or; Subject the Member to severe pain that cannot be managed in a way other than what has been
requested (based on the opinion of a Provider who knows the patient).
Molina allows a health care practitioner with knowledge of a Member's medical condition to act as the authorized representative of the Member for all parts of the authorization request and review process.
When a Member or their Provider requests an expedited determination, Molina staff will document and evaluate the request immediately. For pre-service and concurrent reviews, a licensed health care professional will review any unclear requests. If the request does not meet criteria for an expedited review, the health care professional may discuss the request with the Member's Provider. Only a qualified licensed health care professional may deny a request for expedited review.
If Molina initiates an expedited decision and the Member or Provider objects and requests a standard review time-frame, the objection is documented and a standard review is completed as expeditiously as the Member's health condition requires, no later than fourteen (14) business days following receipt of the request for service.
The criteria used for utilization management decision making are available for Practitioners to review.
Peer-to-Peer Process
The Medical Directors who review and deny requests are available to practitioners to discuss those requests and the criteria used in any decision by calling (844) 557-8434, 8:30AM 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Molina has no incentives for reviewing staff or physicians to minimize, avoid, or deny health care services to Members. Furthermore, a physician reviewing an appeal cannot be the subordinate of the original reviewing physician.
Non-Participating Providers
MHC maintains a contracted network of qualified healthcare professionals who have undergone a comprehensive credentialing process in order to provide medical care for Molina Members. MHC requires Members to receive medical care within the participating, contracted network of Providers. All care provided by non-contracted, non-network Providers must be prior authorized by MHC UM. Non-network Providers may provide emergent/urgent care and dialysis services for a Member who is temporarily outside the service area, without prior authorization or as otherwise required by Federal or State laws or regulations.
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Service referrals will be made to contracted, Participating (PAR) Providers within the Molina contracted Provider network whenever possible. When referrals to non- participating (nonPAR) Providers are received, Molina UM staff will contact the requesting Provider and recommend referral to a PAR Provider. Requests to non-PAR Providers will be considered on a case by case basis and must be approved by a Molina Medical Director or his/her designee. Referrals to a non-PAR Provider will be considered for, but are not limited to the following: Continuation of care. The required specialty is not available in the network. PAR Specialist/surgeon does not have privileges at the contracted facility. Higher level of care is available at a non-par facility. If the Member may be required to travel a distance of greater than >fifteen (15) miles (urban)
or > thirty (30) miles (rural) to see a Behavioral Health Practitioner or other Specialist where care may be ongoing. (Molina Members have the right to request out-of-network care when in-network Providers are not reasonably accessible).
Authorization for coverage of requested services may be given as follows: Authorization not required - subject to Member eligibility, services such as emergency care
do not require any utilization management review or prior authorization by Molina. Primary Care Physicians (PCP) are able to refer a Member to a contracted specialist for
consultation and treatment without a referral request to Molina. This includes consultation and treatment for Members with chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment. Molina Members may seek obstetric and gynecological physician services directly from a Molina network obstetrician and/or gynecologist or directly from a Molina network family practice physician or surgeon designated by Molina as providing obstetrical and gynecological services.
Authorizations upon Notification
Some services have been designated by Molina for approval upon notification. The services must be performed by appropriate types of Providers who participate with Molina and the request must be clearly defined (e.g., specified by recognized CPT or HCPCS codes with an appropriate diagnosis and diagnosis code). Trained UM Care Review Processors may give these types of approvals.
Upon approval of the service request, the PCP's office staff will assist the Member in scheduling an appointment with the approved Provider/Practitioner. The PCP or his staff will instruct the Member to take a copy of the authorization form and/or number to the requested Provider/Practitioner.
Direct Referral
The Direct Referral process allows PCPs to provide direct access to a contracted network specialist. To ensure timely appointments and clarify medical necessity of the PCP referral; the
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PCP forwards a copy of the direct referral form and supporting medical records to the contracted network specialist.
For delegated Medical Groups/IPAs, please refer to your Medical Group/IPA contract for specific requirements for referrals/authorizations.
Discharge Planning Review
Discharge planning begins upon admission. Discharge Planning identifies and initiates cost effective, quality driven treatment intervention for post-hospital care needs.
Discharge planning involves a process of communication with hospitals, practitioners, vendors the Member and family (if available), to ensure that a Member's needs are met upon hospital discharge. The discharge plan must occur in a safe and timely manner.
The clinical staff is responsible for collaborating with hospital discharge planning to facilitate an appropriate discharge plan for the Member. The clinical staff reviews the medical necessity and appropriateness for select post discharge services including home health, infusion therapy, durable medical equipment, skilled nursing facility and rehabilitative services
Affirmative Statement about Incentives
Molina requires that all medical decisions are coordinated and rendered by qualified physicians and licensed staff unhindered by fiscal or administrative concerns and ensures, through communications to Providers, Members, and staff, that Molina and its delegated contractors do not use incentive arrangements to reward the restriction of medical care to Members.
Furthermore, Molina affirms that all UM decision making is based only on appropriateness of care and service and existence of coverage for its Members, and not on the cost of the service to either Molina or the delegated group. Molina does not specifically reward Providers or other individuals for issuing denials of coverage or care. It is important to remember that: UM decision-making is based only on appropriateness of care and service and existence of
coverage. Molina does not specifically reward Providers or other individuals for issuing denials of
coverage or care. UM decision makers do not receive incentives to encourage decisions that result in
underutilization.
Open Communication about Treatment
Molina prohibits contracted Providers from limiting Provider or Member communication Regarding a Member's health care. Providers may freely communicate with, and act as an Advocate for their patients. Molina requires provisions within Provider contracts that prohibit solicitation of Members for alternative coverage arrangements for the primary purpose of
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securing financial gain. No communication regarding treatment options may be represented or construed to expand or revise the scope of benefits under a health plan or insurance contract.
Molina and its contracted Providers may not enter into contracts that interfere with any ethical responsibility or legal right of Providers to discuss information with a Member about the Member's health care. This includes, but is not limited to, treatment options, alternative plans or other coverage arrangements.
Utilization Management Functions Performed Exclusively by Molina
The following UM functions are conducted by Molina (or by an entity acting on behalf of Molina) and are never delegated:
1. Transplant Case Management - Molina does not delegate management of transplant cases to the medical group. Providers are required to notify Molina's UM Department when the need for a transplant evaluation has been identified. Contracted Providers must obtain prior authorization from Molina for transplant evaluations and surgery. Upon notification, Molina conducts medical necessity review. Molina selects the facility to be accessed for the evaluation and possible transplant.
2. Clinical Trials - Molina does not delegate to Providers the authority to determine and authorize clinical trials. Providers are required to comply with protocols, policies, and procedures for clinical trials as set forth in Molina's contracts. For information on clinical trials, go to www.cms.hhs.gov or call (800) MEDICARE.
Information Only: On September 19, 2000, the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) approved a National Coverage Policy that permits all Medicare Beneficiaries to participate in qualified clinical trials. For the initial implementation, Medicare will pay Providers and hospitals directly on a fee for service basis for covered clinical trial services for Members of Molina's Medicare plans and other Medicare HMO plans. The Provider and/or hospital conducting the clinical trial will submit all claims for clinical trial services directly to Medicare, not to the Medicare plan. This means the Member will be responsible for all Medicare fee for service deductibles and copayments for any services received as a participant in a clinical trial.
3. Experimental and Investigational Reviews - Molina does not delegate to Providers the authority to determine and authorize experimental and investigational (E & I) reviews.
Delegated Utilization Management Functions
Medical Groups/IPAs delegated with UM functions must be prior approved by Molina and be in compliance with all current Molina policies. Molina may delegate UM functions to qualifying Medical Groups/IPAs and delegated entities depending on their ability to meet, perform the delegated activities and maintain specific delegation criteria in compliance with all current Molina policies and regulatory and certification requirements. For more information about
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Delegated UM functions and the oversight of such delegation, please refer to the Delegation section of this Provider Manual.
Communication and Availability to Members and Practitioners
Molina HCS staff is accessible during normal business hours, Monday through Friday (except for Holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for information and authorization of care. When initiating, receiving or returning calls, the HCS staff will identify the organization, their name and title.
Molina's Nurse Advice Line is available to Members and Providers twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week at (888) 275-8750. Primary Care Physicians (PCP) are notified via fax of all Nurse Advice Line encounters.
During business hours HCS staff is available for inbound and outbound calls through an automatic rotating call system triaged by designated staff. Callers may also contact staff directly through a private line. All staff members identify themselves by providing their first name, job title, and organization.
Levels of Administrative and Clinical Review
Molina reviews and approves or denies plan coverage for various services inpatient, outpatient, medical supplies, equipment, and selected medications. The review types are: Administrative (e.g., eligibility, appropriate vendor or participating Provider, covered
service); and, Clinical (e.g., medically necessary).
The overall review process begins with administrative review followed by initial clinical review if appropriate. Specialist review may be needed as well. All Organization Determination/ Authorization requests that may lead to denial are reviewed by a health professional at Molina (medical director, pharmacy director, or appropriately licensed delegate).
All staff involved in the review process has an updated Organization Determination/ Authorization requirements list of services and procedures that require Pre-Service Organization Determination/Authorization.
The Organization Determination/Authorization requirements, timelines and procedures are published in the Provider Manual and available on the Molina Provider Web Site.
In addition Molina's Provider training includes information on the UM processes and Organization Determination/Authorization requirements.
Prospective/Pre-Service Review
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Pre-service review defines the process, qualified personnel and timeframes for accepting, evaluating and replying to prior authorization requests. Pre-service review is required for all nonemergent inpatient admissions, outpatient surgery and identified procedures, Home Health, some durable medical equipment (DME) and Out-of-Area/Out-of-Network Professional Services. The pre-service review process assures the following: Member eligibility; Member covered benefits; The service is not experimental or investigational in nature; The service meets medical necessity criteria (according to accepted, nationally-recognized/
resources; All covered services, e.g., test, procedure, are within the Provider's scope of practice; The requested Provider can provide the service in a timely manner; The receiving specialist(s) and/or hospital is/are provided the required medical information to
evaluate a Member's condition; The requested covered service is directed to the most appropriate contracted specialist,
facility or vendor; The service is provided at the appropriate level of care in the appropriate facility (e.g.,
outpatient versus inpatient or at appropriate level of inpatient care); Continuity and coordination of care is maintained; and, The PCP is kept apprised of service requests and of the service provided to the Member by
other Providers.
Inpatient Review
Molina performs inpatient review to determine medical necessity and appropriateness of an inpatient stay. The goal of inpatient review is to authorize care, identify appropriate discharge planning needs and facilitate discharge to an appropriate setting. The criteria used to determine medical necessity will be as described in "Medical Necessity Review".
The inpatient review process assures the following: Members are correctly assigned to observation or inpatient status; Services are timely and efficient; Comprehensive treatment plan is established; Member is not being discharged prematurely; Member is transferred to appropriate in-network hospital or alternate levels of care when
clinically indicated; Effective discharge planning is implemented; and, Member appropriate for outpatient case management is identified and referred.
Molina follows payment guidelines for inpatient status determinations consistent with CMS guidelines, including the two (2) midnight and observation rules as outlined in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual.
NOTICE Act
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Under the NOTICE Act, hospitals and CAHs must deliver the Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice (MOON) to any beneficiary (including an MA enrollee) who receives observation services as an outpatient for more than twenty-four (24) hours. See the final rule that went on display August 2, 2016 (published August 22, 2016) at: https://www.Federalregister.gov/documents/2016/08/22/2016-18476
Inpatient Status Determinations
Molina's Care Access and Monitoring (CAM) staff determine if the collected medical records and clinical information for requested services are "reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of an illness or injury or to improve the functioning of malformed body member" by meeting all coverage, coding and Medical Necessity requirements. To determine Medical Necessity, the criteria outlined under "Medical Necessity" Review will be used.
Inpatient Facility Admission
Notification of admission is required to verify eligibility, authorize care, including level of care (LOC), and initiate concurrent review and discharge planning. For emergency admissions, notification of the admission shall occur once the patient has been stabilized in the emergency department. Proper notification is required by Molina on the day of admission to ensure timely and accurate payment of hospital claims. Delegated Medical Groups/IPAs must have a clearly defined process that requires the hospital to notify Molina on a daily basis of all hospital admissions.
Notifications may be submitted by fax. Contact telephone numbers and fax numbers are noted in the introduction to the Utilization Management section of this Provider Manual.
Discharge Planning
Discharge planning begins on admission, and is designed for early identification of medical/psychosocial issues that will need post-hospital intervention. The goal of discharge planning is to initiate cost-effective, quality-driven treatment interventions for post-hospital care at the earliest point in the admission. Upon discharge the Provider must provide Molina with Member demographic information, date of discharge, discharge plan and disposition.
Inpatient Review Nurses work closely with the hospital discharge planners to determine the most appropriate discharge setting for the patient. The inpatient review nurses review medical necessity and appropriateness for home health, infusion therapy, durable medical equipment (DME), skilled nursing facility and rehabilitative services.
Post-Service Review
Post-Service Review applies when a Provider fails to seek authorization from Molina for services that require authorization. Failure to obtain authorization for an elective service that
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requires authorization will result in an administrative denial. Emergent services do not require authorization. Coverage of emergent services up to stabilization of the patient will be approved for payment. If the patient is subsequently admitted following emergent care services, authorization is required within one (1) business day or post stabilization stay will be denied.
Failure to obtain authorization when required will result in denial of payment for those services. The only possible exception for payment as a result of post-service review is if information is received indicating the Provider did not know nor reasonably could have known that patient was a Molina Member or there was a Molina error, a medical necessity review will be performed. Decisions, in this circumstance, will be based on medical need, appropriateness of care guidelines defined by UM policies and criteria, CMS Medical Coverage Guidelines, Local and National Coverage Determinations, CMS Policy Manuals, regulation and guidance and evidence based criteria sets.
Specific Federal requirements or Provider contracts that prohibit administrative denials supersede this policy.
Coordination of Care
Molina staff assists Providers by identifying needs and issues that may not be verbalized by Providers, assisting to identify resources such as community programs, national support groups, appropriate specialists and facilities, identifying best practice or new and innovative approaches to care. Care coordination by Molina staff is done in partnership with Providers and Members to ensure efforts are efficient and non-duplicative. There are two (2) main coordination of care processes for Molina Members.
The first occurs when a new Member enrolls in Molina and needs to transition medical care to Molina contracted Providers. There are mechanisms within the enrollment process to identify those Members and reach out to them from the Member & Provider Contact Center to assist in obtaining authorizations, transferring to contracted DME vendors, receiving approval for prescription medications, etc.
The second coordination of care process occurs when a Molina Member's benefits will be ending and they need assistance in transitioning to other care. The process includes mechanisms for identifying Molina Members whose benefits are ending and are in need of continued care.
Providers must offer the opportunity to provide assistance to identified Members through: Notification of community resources, local or state funded agencies; Education about alternative care; and, How to obtain care as appropriate.
Continuity of Care and Transition of Members
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Molina provides continued healthcare services in accordance with the terms and conditions of the benefits of the Evidence of Coverage/Plan Contract for new Members who are currently under management of a non-participating Provider for an active course of treatment and who are eligible for continuation of care. Molina will also make provisions for continuity of care for existing Members who are in an active course of treatment with a Provider whose contract has terminated with MHC or a Provider that has changed Provider groups and who are eligible for continuation of care.
Scope of Conditions: Member can demonstrate an existing relationship with the out-of- network Provider, prior to
enrollment; The Provider is willing to accept payment from the Molina based on the current Medicare fee
or Medi-Cal fee schedule, as applicable; and Molina would not exclude the Provider from the Provider network due to documented quality
of care concerns.
If a Member changes MMPs, the COC period may start over one time. If the Member changes MMP's a second time (or more) the COC period does not start over, meaning that the Member does not have the right to a new twelve (12) month period depending on the type of Provider. If a Member changes MMPs, this COC policy does not extend to out-of-network Providers that the Member accessed through their previous MMP.
Continuity of care policies apply regardless of whether a Member voluntarily joins or passively enrolls in an MMP. If a Member opts out or disenrolls from Cal MediConnect and later reenrolls in Cal MediConnect, the Member has the right to a twelve (12) month continuity of care period, regardless of whether the Member received continuity of care in the past.
When a Member, their authorized representative on file with Medi-Cal or their Provider makes a request to Molina for COC, Molina must begin to process the request within five (5) working days after receipt of the request. The COC process begins when Molina determines there is a pre-existing relationship and has entered into an agreement with the Provider.
Molina shall accept requests for COC over the telephone, according to the requestor's preference, and shall not require that the requestor complete and submit a paper or computer form. To complete a telephone request, Molina may take any necessary information from the requestor over the telephone.
Molina shall accept and approve retroactive requests for COC, and claim payments that meet all COC requirements, with the exception of the requirement to abide by Molina's utilization management policies. The services that are subject of the request must have occurred after the Member's enrollment with Molina and Molina must have the ability to demonstrate that there was an existing relationship between the Member and Provider prior to the Member's enrollment with Molina. Molina shall only approve retroactive requests that meet the following requirements:
Have dates of services that occur after September 29, 2014.
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Have dates of services within thirty (30) calendar days of the first date of service for which the Provider is requesting, or has previously requested, COC retroactive reimbursement.
Are submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the first service for which retroactive COC is being requested or denial from another entity when the claim was incorrectly submitted. Molina shall accept retroactive requests that are submitted more than thirty (30) days after the first service if the Provider can document that the reason for the delay is that the Provider unintentionally sent the request to the incorrect entity and the request is sent within thirty (30) days of the denial from the other entity.
Molina will determine if a relationship exists through use of data provided to the MMP by CMS and DHCS, such as FFS utilization data from Medicare or Medi-Cal. A member or his/her Provider may also provide information to the MMP that demonstrates a pre-existing relationship with a Provider. A beneficiary may not attest to a pre-existing relationship (instead actual documentation must be provided) unless the MMP makes this option available to him/her.
Following identification of pre-existing, the MMP must contact the Provider and make a good faith effort to enter into a contract, letter of agreement, single-case agreement or other form of relationship to establish a continuity of care relationship for the beneficiary.
Each COC request must be completed within thirty (30) days from the date Molina received the request, within fifteen (15) calendar days if the Member's medical condition requires more immediate attention such as appointments or pressing care needs, or within three (3) calendar days if there is risk of harm to the Member.
A COC request is considered completed when the Member is informed of his/her right of continued access or Molina and the out-of-network FFS or prior plan Provider are unable to agree to a rate; Molina has documented quality of care issues; or Molina makes a good faith effort to contact the Provider and the Provider is non-responsive for thirty (30) calendar days.
An approved out-of-network Provider cannot refer the Member to another out-of-network Provider without authorization from Molina. Molina will make the referral, if medically necessary and if Molina does not have an appropriate Provider within its network.
For DME, transportation and other ancillary services, Molina will provide COC for services to ensure that each Member continues to have access to medically necessary items and services, as well as medical and LTSS Providers, but is not obligated to use out-of-network Providers who are determined to have pre-existing relationships for the applicable twelve (12) months.
Molina must allow Members to continue to use of any drugs that are part of a prescribed therapy in effect for the Member immediately prior to the date of enrollment, whether or not the drug is covered by Molina, until the prescribed therapy is no longer prescribed by the contracting.
Molina, at the request of the Member, provides for the completion of covered services by a terminated or nonparticipating health plan Provider.
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Molina is required to complete services for the following conditions: acute, serious chronic, pregnancy, terminal illness, the care of a newborn child between birth and age thirty-six (36) months and surgeries or other procedures that were previously authorized as part of a documented course of treatment.
Molina will not require a Member who is a long term resident of a nursing facility (NF) prior to enrollment to change NFs during the duration of the Duals Demonstration Project, provided that the facility is licensed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), meets acceptable quality standards, and the facility and Molina agree to Medicare rates if the services is a Medicare service, or Medi-Cal rates if the service is a Medi-Cal service, in accordance with the three (3)-way contract.
If a Member residing in a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) leaves the SNF, the Member has the right to return to the same SNF where they previously resided under the COC policy.
If a Provider meets all of the necessary requirements, including entering into a contract, letter of agreement, single-case agreement or other form of relationship with Molina, Molina must allow the Member to have access to that Provider for the length of the COC period unless the Provider is only willing to work with Molina for a shorter timeframe. In this case, Molina must allow the Member to have access to that Provider for the shorter period of time.
At any time, Members may change their Provider regardless of whether or not a COC relationship has been established. When the COC agreement has been established, Molina must work with the Provider to establish a care plan for the Member.
Upon completion of a COC request, Molina must notify the Member of the following within seven (7) calendar days: The request approval or denial, and if denied, the Member's appeal and grievance rights; The duration of the COC arrangement; The process that will occur to transition the Member's care at the end of the COC period; and, The Member's right to choose a different Provider from Molina's Provider network.
Molina notifies the Member thirty (30) calendar days before the end of the COC period about the process that will occur to transition the Member's care at the end of the COC period.
This process shall include engaging with the Member and Provider before the end of the COC period to ensure continuity of services through the transition to a new Provider.
Consistent with the provisions of the contract, Molina is not required to provide Provider COC with an out-of-network Provider if any of the following circumstances exist: Molina is not required to provide COC for services not covered by Medi-Cal or Medicare. The following Providers are not eligible for COC: Providers of DME, transportation, other
ancillary services or carved out services.
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The Provider does not agree to abide by Molina's utilization management policies or a reimbursement rate.
Molina will provide COC to Members through continued access to a CBAS (Community Based Adult Services) Provider with whom there is an existing relationship for up to twelve (12) months after Member enrollment or a Long Term Care (LTC) Provider with whom there is an existing relationship through December 31, 2016. The requirement shall include out-of-network Providers if there are no quality of care issues and the Provider will accept contractor or MediCal FFS rates, whichever is higher.
Requirements for Delegated Entities When a Member transitions into the Molina MMP line of business, and has an existing relationship with a PCP that is in the Molina Provider network, Molina must assign the Member to the PCP, unless the Member chooses another PCP. Since Molina contracts with delegated groups, Molina must assign the Member to a delegated entity that has the Member's preferred PCP in its network.
Additionally, when a Member transitions into the MMP, and has an existing relationship with a PCP and/or specialist within Molina's Provider network, the Member must be allowed to continue treatment for the continuity of care period with these Providers, even if the Providers belong to different delegated entities.
Balance billing is prohibited by State and Federal law. A Provider may not bill a beneficiary for any charges that are not reimbursed by Medicare or Medi-Cal, if the service is covered by Medicare or Medi-Cal. The only exception is that Providers may bill Medi-Cal beneficiaries who have a monthly share of cost obligation, but only until that obligation is met for the applicable month.
Organization Determinations
An organization determination is any determination (e.g., an approval or denial) made by Molina or the delegated Medical Group/IPA or other delegated entity with respect to the following: Determination to authorize, provide or pay for services (favorable determination); Determination to deny requests (adverse determination); Discontinuation of a service; Payment for temporarily, out-of-the-area renal dialysis services; Payment for emergency services, post-stabilization care or urgently needed services; and, Payment for any other health service furnished by a Provider that the Member believes is
covered under Medicare or if not covered under Medicare, should have been furnished, arranged for or reimbursed by Molina or the delegated Medical Group/IPA or other delegated entity.
All medical necessity requests for authorization determinations must be based on nationally recognized criteria that are supported by sound scientific, medical evidence. Clinical information used in making determinations include, but are not limited to, review of medical records,
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consultation with the treating Providers, and review of nationally recognized criteria. The criteria for determining medical appropriateness must be clearly documented and include procedures for applying criteria based on the needs of individual patients and characteristics of the local delivery system.
Clinical criteria do not replace Medicare Coverage Determinations when making decisions regarding appropriate medical treatment for Molina Members. As a Medicare Plan, Molina and its delegated Medical Groups/IPAs, or other delegated entity at a minimum, cover all services and items required by Medicare.
Requests for authorization that do not meet criteria must be reviewed by a designated Medical Director or presented to the appropriate committee for discussion and a determination. Only a licensed physician (or pharmacist, psychiatrist, doctoral level clinical psychologist or certified addiction medicine specialist as appropriate) may determine to delay, modify or deny services to a Member for reasons of medical necessity.
Board certified licensed Providers from appropriate specialty areas must be utilized to assist in making determinations of medical necessity, as appropriate. All utilization decisions must be made in a timely manner to accommodate the clinical urgency of the situation, in accordance with Federal and state regulatory requirements and NCQA standards.
1. Standard Initial Organization Determinations (Pre-service) Standard initial organization determinations must be made as soon as medically indicated, within a maximum of fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the request. The table under number four (4) below describes the CMS required decision timeframes and notification requirements followed by Molina.
2. Expedited Initial Organization Determinations A request for expedited determinations may be made. An organization determination is expedited if applying the standard determination timeframes could seriously jeopardize the life or health of the Member or the Member's ability to re-gain maximum function. Molina and any delegated Medical Group/IPA or other delegated entity is responsible to appropriately log and respond to requests for expedited initial organization determinations. Expedited Initial Determinations must be made as soon as medically necessary, within seventy-two (72) hours (including weekends and holidays) following receipt of the validated request; and, Delegated Medical Groups/IPAs or other delegated entities are responsible for submitting a monthly log of all Expedited Initial Determinations to Molina's Delegation Oversight Department that lists pertinent information about the expedited determination including Member demographics, data and time of receipt and resolution of the issue, nature of the problem and other information deemed necessary by Molina or the Medical Group/IPA or other delegated entities. The table under number four (4) below describes the CMS required decision timeframes and notification requirements followed by Molina.
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3. Written Notification of Denial The Member must be provided with written notice of the determination, if the decision is to deny, in whole or in part, the requested service or payment. If the Member has an authorized representative, the representative must be sent a copy of the denial notice. The appropriate written notice, that has CMS approval, must be issued within established regulatory and certification timelines. The adverse organization determination templates shall be written in a manner that is understandable to the Member and shall provide the following: The specific reason for the denial, including the precise criteria used to make the decision that takes into account the Member's presenting medical condition, disabilities and language requirements, if any; Information regarding the Member's right to a standard or expedited reconsideration and the right to appoint a representative to file an appeal on the Member's behalf; Include a description of both the standard and expedited reconsideration process, timeframes and conditions for obtaining an expedited reconsideration, and the other elements of the appeals process; Payment denials shall include a description of the standard reconsideration process, timeframes and other elements of the appeal process; and, A statement disclosing the Member's right to submit additional evidence in writing or in person. Failure to provide the Member with timely notice of an organization determination constitutes an adverse organization determination which may be appealed.
4. Termination of Provider Services (SNF, HH, CORF)/Issuance of Notice of Medicare Non- Coverage (NOMNC) and Detailed Explanation of Non-Coverage (DENC) When a termination of authorized coverage of a Member's admission to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or coverage of home health agencies (HHA) or comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility (CORF) services occurs, the Member must receive a written notice two (2) calendar days or two (2) visits prior to the proposed termination of services.
Molina or the delegated Medical Group/IPA must coordinate with the SNF, HHA or CORF Provider to ensure timely delivery of the written notice, using the approved NOMNC. Delivery of the notice is not valid unless all elements are present and Member or authorized representative signs and dates the notice to document receipt. The NOMNC must include the Member's name, delivery date, date that coverage of
services ends and QIO information; The NOMNC may be delivered earlier than two (2) days before coverage ends; If coverage is expected to be fewer than two (2) days in duration, the NOMNC must be
provided at the time of admission; and, If home health services are provided for a period of time exceeding two (2) days, the
NOMNC must be provided on or before the second to last service date.
Molina (or the delegated entity) remains liable for continued services until two (2) days after the Member receives valid notice. If the Member does not agree that covered
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services should end, the Member may request a Fast Track Appeal by the Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) by noon of the day following receipt of the NOMNC, or by noon of the day before coverage ends.
Upon notification of the Member's request for the Fast Track Appeal, Molina (or the delegated entity) must provide a detailed notice to the Member and to the QIO no later than the close of business, using the approved DENC explaining why services are no longer necessary or covered. The DENC must include the following: A specific and detailed explanation why services are either no longer reasonable and
necessary or otherwise no longer covered; A description of any applicable coverage rule, instruction or other policy, citations, or
information about how the Member may obtain a copy of the policy from Molina or the delegated entity; Any applicable policy, contract provision or rationale upon which the termination decision was based; and, Facts specific to the Member and relevant to the coverage determination that is sufficient to advise the Member of the applicability of the coverage rule or policy to the Member's case.
Reporting of Suspected Abuse of an Adult
A vulnerable adult is a person who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.
Molina reports suspected or potential abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults as required by State and Federal law. A vulnerable adult is defined as a person who is not able to defend themselves, protect themselves, or get help for themselves when injured or emotionally abused. A person may be vulnerable because of a physical condition or illness (such as weakness in an older adult or physical disability) or a mental/behavioral or emotional condition. Mandatory reporters include: Molina employees who have knowledge of or suspect the abuse, neglect or exploitation; Law enforcement officer; Social worker; professional school personnel; individual Provider; an employee of a facility,
an operator of a facility; and/or, An employee of a social service, welfare, mental /behavioral health, adult day health, adult
day care, home health, home care, or hospice agency; county coroner or medical examiner, Christian Science Provider or healthcare Provider.
A permissive reporter is any individual with knowledge of a potential abuse situation who is not included in the list of mandatory reporters. A permissive reporter may report to the Molina UM Department or a law enforcement agency when there is reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult is being or has been abandoned, abused, financially exploited or neglected. Permissive or voluntary reporting will occur as needed.
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The following are the types of abuse which are required to be reported: Physical abuse is intentional bodily injury. Some examples include slapping, pinching,
choking, kicking, shoving, or inappropriately using drugs or physical restraints. Sexual abuse is nonconsensual sexual contact. Examples include unwanted touching, rape,
sodomy, coerced nudity, sexually explicit photographing. Mental/behavioral mistreatment is deliberately causing mental or emotional pain.
Examples include intimidation, coercion, ridiculing; harassment; treating an adult like a child; isolating an adult from family, friends, or regular activity; use of silence to control behavior; and yelling or swearing which results in mental distress. Neglect occurs when someone, either through action or inaction, deprives a vulnerable adult of care necessary to maintain physical or mental health. Self-neglect occurs when a vulnerable adult fails to provide adequately for themselves. A competent person who decides to live their life in a manner which may threaten their safety or well-being does not come under this definition. Exploitation occurs when a vulnerable adult or the resources or income of a vulnerable adult are illegally or improperly used for another person's profit or gain. Abandonment occurs when a vulnerable adult is left without the ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter or health care.
In the event that an employee of Molina or one of its contracted Providers encounters potential or suspected abuse as described above, a call must be made to: California Adult Protective Services (APS) Elder Abuse Hotline: (877) 4-R-SENIORS, (877) 477-3646
All reports should include: Date abuse occurred; Type of abuse; Names of persons involved if known; Source of Information; Names and telephone numbers of other people who can provide information about the
situation; and, Any safety concerns.
Molina's Interdisciplinary Care Team (ICT) will work with PCPs and Medical Groups/IPA and other delegated entities who are obligated to communicate with each other when there is a concern that a Member is being abused. Final actions are taken by the PCP/Medical Group/IPA, other delegated entities or other clinical personnel. Under State and Federal Law, a person participating in good faith in making a report or testifying about alleged abuse, neglect, abandonment, financial exploitation or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult in a judicial or administrative proceeding may be immune from liability resulting from the report or testimony.
Molina will follow up with Members that are reported to have been abused, exploited or neglected to ensure appropriate measures were taken, and follow up on safety issues. Molina will
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track, analyze, and report aggregate information regarding abuse reporting to the Utilization Management Committee and the proper state agency.
Emergency and Post-Stabilization Services
Molina and its contracted Providers must provide emergency services and post-emergency stabilization and maintenance services to treat any Member with an Emergency Medical Condition in compliance with Federal Law. An Emergency Medical Condition is defined as a medical condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that a prudent layperson, who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine, could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in: Placing the health of the Member including the health of a pregnant woman and/or her
unborn child in serious jeopardy; Serious impairment to bodily functions; Serious dysfunction of any body part; and/or, Serious disfigurement.
Molina covers maintenance care and post-stabilization services which are medically necessary, non-emergency services. Molina or its delegated entity arranges for post-stabilization services to ensure that the patient remains stabilized from the time the treating hospital requests authorization until the time the patient is discharged or a contracting medical Provider agrees to other arrangements.
Pre-approval of emergency services is not required. Molina requires the hospital emergency room to contact the Member's primary care Provider upon the Member's arrival at the emergency room. After stabilization of the Member, Molina requires pre-approval of further post-stabilization services by a participating Provider or other Molina representative.
Molina or its delegated entity is financially responsible for these services until Molina or its delegated entity becomes involved with managing or directing the Member's care.
Molina and its delegated entity provides urgently needed services for Members temporarily outside of the service area but within the United States or who have moved to another service area but are still enrolled with. Urgent Services are covered services that are medically necessary and are needed urgently, typically the same day or within two (2) days of onset of symptoms, as judged by a prudent layperson.
Emergency Department Support Unit
While the Member is in the Emergency Room, please fax all clinical records to the dedicated EDSU fax number: (877) 665-4625. This fax number is used exclusively for Members currently in the ER, to help expedite requests and assist with discharge planning.
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Molina's Emergency Department Support Unit (EDSU) will collaborate with the ER to provide assistance to ensure Members receive the care they need, when they need it.
The EDSU is a dedicated team, available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week to provide support by: Assisting in determining appropriate level of placement using established clinical guidelines. Issuing authorizations necessary, for admission, transportation, or home health. Involving a Hospitalist or On-Call Medical Director for any Peer-to-Peer reviews needed. Working with pharmacy to coordinate medications or infusions as needed. Obtaining SNF placement if clinically indicated. Coordinating placement into Case Management with Molina when appropriate. Beginning the process of discharge planning and next day follow-up with a primary care
Provider if indicated.
For EDSU, Call: (844) 966-5462
Molina is excited to partner with you as we continue to provide quality service and care to our Members. Call (844) 966-5462 to speak to an EDSU representative.
Any emergency service resulting in an inpatient admission requires MHC notification and authorization within twenty-four (24) hours (or the next business day) of the admission. Furthermore, "Out of Area" and/or non-contracted emergency service Providers/Practitioners are required to notify MHC when the Member's condition is deemed stable for follow up care in MHC's service area, at a contracted facility. MHC adheres to the regulations set forth in Title 28, California Code of Regulations, Chapter 3, Section 1300.71.4, Emergency Medical Condition and Post Stabilization Responsibilities for Medically Necessary Health Care Services.
Please fax clinical documentation to: (866) 472-0596
After hours, weekends and holidays, please call: Phone: (844) 9-MOLINA (844) 966-5462
Emergency Room Discharge and After-Care
Aftercare instructions should be documented in the emergency facility medical record and communicated to the patient, parent, or guardian. Discharge from the emergency facility is performed on the order of a Provider/Practitioner.
Urgent Care
Direct and Molina Medical Group's Contracted Urgent Care Providers/Practitioners may obtain authorization for urgent care services by contacting the MHC Utilization Management Department. Telephone assistance for Members and Providers/Practitioners is available twentyfour (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week through MHC's Nurse Advice Program.
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For transfer requests and discharge planning authorizations, after hours, weekends and holidays, please call: (844) 9-MOLINA (844) 966-5462
Primary Care Providers
Molina provides a panel of PCPs to care for its Members. Providers in the specialties of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology are eligible to serve as PCPs. Members may choose a PCP or have one selected for them by Molina. Molina's Medicare Members are required to see a PCP who is part of the Molina Network. Molina's Medicare Members may select or change their PCP by contacting Molina.
Specialty Providers
Molina maintains a network of specialty Providers to care for its Members. Referrals from a Molina PCP are required for a Member to receive specialty services, however, no prior authorization is required. Members are allowed to directly access women health specialists for routine and preventive health without a referral services.
Molina will help to arrange specialty care outside the network when Providers are unavailable or the network is inadequate to meet a Member's medical needs. To obtain such assistance contact the Molina UM Department. Referrals to specialty care outside the network require prior authorization from Molina.
Case Management
The Case Management Program provides care coordination and health education for disease management, as well as identifies and addresses psychosocial barriers to accessing care with the goal of promoting high quality care that aligns with a Member's individual health care goals. Case Management focuses on the delivery of quality, cost-effective, and appropriate health care services for Members with complex and chronic care needs. Members may receive health risk assessments that help identify medical, mental health and medication management problems to target highest-needs members who would benefit from assistance and education from a case manager. Additionally, functional, social support and health literacy deficits are assessed, as well as safety concerns and caregiver needs. To initiate the case management process, the Member is screened for appropriateness for case management program enrollment using specified criteria. Criteria are used for opening and closing cases appropriately with notification to Member and Provider.
1. The role of the Case Manager includes: Coordination of quality and cost-effective services; Appropriate application of benefits; Promotion of early, intensive interventions in the least restrictive setting; Assistance with transitions between care settings;
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Provision of accurate and up-to-date information to Providers regarding completed health assessments and care plans;
Creation of individualized care plans, updated as the Member's health care needs change;
Facilitation of Interdisciplinary Care Team meetings; Utilization of multidisciplinary clinical, behavioral and rehabilitative services; Referral to and coordination of appropriate resources and support service, including
Long Term Services & Supports; Attention to Member satisfaction; Attention to the handling of PHI and maintaining confidentiality; Provision of ongoing analysis and evaluation; Protection of Member rights; and, Promotion of Member responsibility and self-management.
2. Referral to Case Management may be made by any of the following entities: Member or Member's designated representative; Member's primary care Provider; Specialists; Hospital Staff; Home Health Staff; and, Molina staff.
Molina Special Needs Plan Model of Care
1. Targeted Population Molina operates Medicare Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (SNP) for Members who are fully eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. In accordance with CMS regulations, Molina has a SNP Model of Care that outlines Molina's efforts to meet the needs of the dual eligible SNP Members. This population has a higher burden of multiple chronic illnesses and sub-populations of frail/disabled Members than other Medicare Managed Care Plan types. The Molina Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan Model of Care addresses the needs of all sub-populations found in the Molina Medicare SNP.
2. Care Management Goals Utilization of the Molina SNP extensive network of primary Providers, specialty Providers and facilities, in addition to services from the Molina Medicare SNP Interdisciplinary Care Team (ICT), will improve access of Molina Members to essential services such as medical, mental health and social services. Molina demonstrates its compliance with this goal using the following data and comparing against available internal and external benchmarks and expects to see annual improvement compared to benchmarks: a. Molina Geo Access reports showing availability of services by geographic area; b. Number of Molina SNP Members utilizing the following services: Primary care Provider (PCP) Services Specialty (including Mental/Behavioral Health) Services
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Inpatient Hospital Services Skilled Nursing Facility Services Home Health Services Mental/Behavioral Health Facility Services Durable Medical Equipment Services Emergency Department Services Supplemental Transportation Benefits Long Term Services and Supports c. HEDIS® use of services reports; d. Member Access Complaint Report; e. Medicare CAHPS® Survey; and f. Molina Provider Access Survey.
3. Members of the Molina SNP will have access to quality affordable healthcare. Since Members of the Molina SNP are full dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid they are not subject to out of pocket costs or cost sharing for covered services. Molina focuses on delivering high quality care. Molina has an extensive process for credentialing network Providers, ongoing monitoring of network Providers and peer review for quality of care complaints. Molina maintains recommended clinical practice guidelines that are evidence based and nationally recognized. Molina regularly measures Provider adherence to key provisions of its clinical practice guidelines. Molina demonstrates its compliance with this goal using the following data and comparing against available internal and external benchmarks and expects to see annual improvement compared to benchmarks: a. HEDIS® report of percent Providers maintaining board certification; b. Serious reportable adverse events report; c. Annual report on quality of care complaints and peer reviews; d. Annual PCP medical record review; e. Clinical Practice Guideline Measurement Report; f. Licensure sanction report review; and, g. Medicare/Medicaid sanctions report review.
4. By having access to Molina's network of primary care and specialty Providers as well as Molina's programs that include Care Management Service Coordination, Nurse Advice Line, Utilization Management and Quality Improvement, SNP Members have an opportunity to realize improved health outcomes.
Molina demonstrates its compliance with this goal using the following data and comparing against available internal and external benchmarks and expects to see annual improvement compared to benchmarks: a. Medicare HOS; and, b. Chronic Care Improvement Program Reports.
5. Molina Members will have an assigned point of contact for their coordination of care. According to Member's need, this coordination of care contact point might be their
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Molina Network PCP or Molina Case Manager. Care will be coordinated through a single point of contact who interact with the ICT to coordinate services as needed.
6. Members of the Molina Medicare SNP will have improved transitions of care across healthcare settings, Providers and health services. The Molina Medicare SNP has programs designed to improve transitions of care. Authorization processes enable Molina staff to become aware of transitions of care due to changes in healthcare status as they occur. Molina case managers work with Members, their caregivers and their Providers to assist in care transitions. In addition Molina has a program to provide follow-up telephone calls or face to face visits to Members while the Member is in the hospital and after hospital discharge to make sure that they received and are following an adequate discharge plan. The purpose is to establish a safe discharge plan and to evaluate if the Members are following the prescribed discharge plan once they are home, have scheduled a follow up physician appointment, have filled all prescriptions, understand how to administer their medications and have received the necessary discharge services such as home care or physical therapy. All Members experiencing transition receive a post discharge educational letter advising them of benefits and services offered by Molina. Molina demonstrates its compliance with this goal using the following data and comparing against available internal and external benchmarks and expects to see annual improvement compared to benchmarks: a. Transition of Care Data; b. Re-admission within thirty (30) Days Report; c. Provider adherence to notification requirements; and, d. Provider adherence to provision of the discharge plan.
7. Members of the Molina Medicare SNP will have improved access to preventive health services. The Molina Medicare SNP expands the Medicare preventive health benefit by providing annual preventive care visits at no cost to all Members. This allows PCPs to coordinate preventive care on a regular basis. Molina uses and publicizes nationally recognized preventive health schedules to its Providers. Molina also makes outreach calls to Members to remind them of overdue preventive services and to offer assistance with arranging appointments and providing transportation to preventive care appointments.
Molina demonstrates its compliance with this goal using the following data and comparing against available internal and external benchmarks and expects to see annual improvement compared to benchmarks: HEDIS® Preventive Services Reports.
8. Members of the Molina Medicare SNP will have appropriate utilization of healthcare services. Molina utilizes its Utilization Management team to review appropriateness of requests for healthcare services using appropriate Medicare criteria and to assist in Members receiving appropriate healthcare services in a timely fashion from the proper Provider.
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Molina demonstrates its compliance with this goal using the following data and comparing against available internal and external benchmarks and expects to see annual improvement compared to benchmarks: Molina Over and Under Utilization Reports.
9. Staff Structure and Roles - The Molina Medicare SNP has developed its staff structure and roles to meet the needs of dual eligible Special Needs Plan Members. Molina's background as a Provider of Medicaid Managed Care services in the states that it serves allows the plan to have expertise in both the Medicare and Medicaid benefits that Members have access to in the Molina Medicare Dual Eligible SNP. Molina has many years of experience managing this population of patients within Medicaid to go with its experience of managing the Medicare part of their benefit. Molina's Member advocacy and service philosophy is designed and administered to assure Members receive valueadded coordination of health care and services that ensures continuity and efficiency and that produces optimal outcomes. Molina employed staff are organized in a manner to meet this objective and include: a. Care Management Team that forms a main component of the interdisciplinary care team (ICT) comprised of the following positions and roles: i. Care Review Processors Gather clinical information about transitions in care and authorizations for services, authorize services within their scope of training and job parameters based upon predetermined criteria, serve as a resource for nursing staff in collecting existing clinical information to assist nursing assessments and care team coordination. ii. Care Review Clinicians (LVN/RN) Assess, authorize, coordinate and evaluate services, including those provided by specialists and therapists, in conjunction with the Member, Providers and other team members based on Member's needs, medical necessity and predetermined criteria. iii. Case Managers (CM) (nurse, social workers, Behavioral Health professionals) Work with the IRC and Transition Coaches to support members after the thirty (30) day transition period by assessing, authorizing, coordinating, triaging and evaluating services in conjunction with the Member, Providers and other team members based on Member's needs and preferences. The CM supports Members, caregivers and Providers in Member transitions between care settings including facilitation of information retrieval from ancillary Providers, consultants, and diagnostic studies for development, implementation and /or revision of the integrated care plan. The CM continues to work with the Member to identify and address issues regarding Member's medical, behavioral health, LTSS and social needs and maintains and updates the integrated care plan and assists in the coordination of needed services. Updates to the ICP are communicated by the CM to the Member and participants of the ICT based on member preference. iv. Health Manager Develop materials for Health Management programs. Serve as resource for Members and Molina staff members regarding Health Management Program information, educates Members on how to manage their condition.
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v. Transitions of Care Coach (Medical and Behavioral Health Clinicians) The Transitions Coach is notified by and works closely with the IRC and functions as a facilitator of interdisciplinary collaboration across the transition, engaging the Member and family caregivers, facility and Providers to participate in the formation and implementation of an individualized plan of care including interventions to mitigate the risk of re-hospitalization. The primary role of the Transitions staff is to follow the Member closely for thirty (30) days post discharge to ensure a safe transition to the least restrictive most inclusive setting of the Member's choice and to encourage self-management and direct communication between the Member and Provider.
vi. Community Connectors/Health Workers the Community Connectors are community health workers trained by Molina to serve as Member navigators and promote health within their own communities by providing education, advocacy and social support. Community Connectors also help Members navigate the community resources and decrease identified barriers to care.
vii. Behavioral Health Team includes Molina employed clinical behavioral health specialists to assist in behavioral health care issues. A board certified Psychiatrist functions as a Behavioral Health Medical Director and as a resource for the Integrated Care Management and Utilization Management Teams and Providers regarding Member's behavioral health care needs and care plans.
b. Member & Provider Contact Center Serves as a Member's initial point of contact with Molina and main source of information about utilizing the Molina Medicare SNP benefits and is comprised of the following positions: i. Member Services Representative Initial point of contact to answer Member questions, assist with benefit information and interpretation, provide information on rights and responsibilities, assist with PCP selection, advocate on Members' behalf, assist Members with interpretive/translation services, inform and educate Members on available services and benefits, act as liaison in directing calls to other departments when necessary to assist Members. ii. Member Services Managers/Directors Provide oversight for member services programs, provide and interpret reporting on member services functions, evaluate member services department functions, identify and address opportunities for improvement.
c. Appeals and Grievances Team that assists Members with information about and processing of appeals and grievances: i. Appeals and Grievances Coordinator Provide Member with information about appeal and grievance processes, assist Members in processing appeals and grievances, notifies Members of appeals and grievance outcomes in compliance with CMS regulations.
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ii. Appeals and Grievances Manager Provide oversight of appeals and grievance processes assuring that CMS regulations are followed, provide and interpret reporting on A&G functions, evaluate A&G department functions, identify and address opportunities for improvement.
d. Quality Improvement Team that develops, monitors, evaluates and improves the Molina Medicare SNP Quality Improvement Program. QI Team is comprised of the following positions: i. QI Specialist Coordinate implementation of QI Program, gather information for QI Program reporting and evaluations, provide analysis of QI Program components. ii. QI Managers/Directors Development and oversight of QI Program which includes program reporting and evaluation to identify and address opportunities for improvement. iii. HEDIS® Specialist Gather and validate data for HEDIS® reporting. iv. HEDIS® Manager Oversight and coordination of data gathering and validation for HEDIS® reporting, provide and interpret HEDIS® reports, provide preventive services missing services report.
e. Medical Director Team has employed board-certified physicians. Medical Directors and Healthcare Services Program Manager - Responsible for oversight of the development, training and integrity of Molina's Medicare SNP Healthcare Services and Quality Improvement programs. Resource for Integrated Care Management and Care Access and Monitoring Teams and Providers regarding Member's health care needs and care plans. Selects and monitors usage of nationally recognized medical necessity criteria, preventive health guidelines and clinical practice guidelines.
f. Behavioral Health Team has Molina employed health specialists to assist in behavioral health care issues: i. Psychiatrist Medical Director Responsible for oversight of the development and integrity of behavioral health aspects of Molina's Medicare SNP Healthcare Services and Quality Improvement programs. Resource for Integrated Care Management and Utilization Management Teams and Providers regarding Member's behavioral health care needs and care plans. Develops and monitors usage of behavioral health related medical necessity criteria and clinical practice guidelines.
g. Pharmacy Team has employed pharmacy professionals that administer the Part D benefit and assist in administration of Part B pharmacy benefits. i. Pharmacy Technician Serves as point of contact for Members with questions about medications, pharmacy processes, and pharmacy appeals and grievances. ii. Pharmacist Provide authorizations for Part D medications. Provide oversight of pharmacy technician performance, resource for Care
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Management Teams, other Molina staff and Providers, provide review of post discharge medication changes, review Member medication lists and report data to assure adherence and safety, interact with Members and Providers to discuss medication lists and adherence.
h. Healthcare Analytics Team i. Healthcare Analysts Assist in gathering information, developing reports, providing analysis for health plan to meet CMS reporting requirements, evaluate the model of care and review operations. ii. Director Healthcare Analytics Develop predictive modeling programs used to assist in identifying Members at risk for future utilization, oversight of health care reporting and analysis program, oversight of clinical aspects of Part C Quality Reporting, oversight of health care analysts.
i. Health Management Team is a Molina care team that provides multiple services to Molina's Medicare SNP Members. This team provides population based Health Management Programs for low risk Members identified with asthma and depression. The Health Management team also provides a twenty-four/seven (24/7) Nurse Advice Line for Members, outbound post hospital discharge calls and outbound preventive services reminder calls. The Health Management team is comprised of the following positions: i. Medicare Member Outreach Assistant Make outbound calls related to gathering and giving information regarding Health Management programs, make outbound calls to review whether Member received hospital discharge plan, make referrals to Care/Case Managers when Members have questions about their hospital discharge plan, make outbound preventive service reminder calls. ii. Nurse Advice Line Nurse Receive inbound calls from Members and Providers with questions about medical care and after-hours issues that need to be addressed, give protocol based medical advice to Members, direct after-hours transitions in care.
j. Interdisciplinary Care Team
i. Composition of the Interdisciplinary Care Team
ICT members are determined by Member preferences and inclusion decisions are made collaboratively and with respect to the Member's right to self-direct care. Family Members and caregiver participation is encouraged and promoted, with the Member's permission. Members are educated during the assessment process on how to access the ICT and the Case Manager provides invitations either verbally or in writing to scheduled ICT meetings. The Member can opt out of the care team and/or
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choose to limit the role of their caregivers, or any other Provider or members of the care team.
The ICT is typically composed of: Member Care Giver PCP, Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA) Primary specialty physician Case Manager Molina Medical Director Molina Social worker Molina Behavioral health staff Molina Pharmacist
Additional members of the ICT may be added on a case-by-case basis depending on a Member's conditions/health status, health risk assessment results and ICP and Member preference: Molina Transitions staff Hospitalist Molina Community Connectors Network Medical Specialty Providers Network Home Health Providers Network or County Behavioral Health Providers Case Managers from County Agencies LTSS facility or HCBS staff Acute Care Hospital Staff Skilled Nursing Facility Staff Long Term Acute Care Facility Staff Certified Outpatient Rehabilitation Staff Behavioral Health Facility Staff Renal Dialysis Center Staff Out of Network Providers or Facility Staff (until a member's condition
of the state of the Molina Network allows safe transfer to network care)
ii. Adding Members to the ICT will be considered when: The Member makes such a request. Member is undergoing a transition in healthcare setting. Member sees multiple medical specialists for care on a regular and ongoing basis. Member has significant complex or unresolved medical diagnoses identified in the member's health risk assessments.
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Member has significant complex or unresolved mental health or chemical dependency diagnoses.
Member has significant complex or unresolved pharmacy needs. Is indicated by health risk assessment or ICP.
iii. Molina's Medicare SNP Members and their caregivers participate in the Molina ICT through many mechanisms including: Formal, scheduled, meetings with Molina case managers, physicians, pharmacists, social workers and Behavioral Health staff including the PCP and other external Providers of the Member's choosing. Participation in external vendor case review such as home health or nursing home case rounds. Molina staff accompanying the Member to their physician or treatment appointments. Three (3) way discussions with the Member, Molina staff, and any external Provider of home services. Discussions about their health care with their PCP. Discussions about their health care with medical specialists or ancillary Providers who are participating in the Member's care as directed by the Member's PCP. Discussions about their health care with facility staff who are participating in the Member's care as directed by the Member's PCP. During the assessment process by Molina Staff. Discussions about their health care with their assigned Molina Integrated Care Management Team members. Discussions with Molina Staff in the course of Health Management programs, preventive health care outreach, Care Transitions program and other post hospital discharge outreach. Discussion with Molina Pharmacists about complex medication issues. Through the appeals and grievance processes. By invitation during case conferences or regular ICT meetings. By request of the Member or caregiver to participate in regular ICT meetings.
iv. ICT Operations and Communication
The Molina Medicare SNP Member's assigned PCP and the Molina Integrated Care Management Team will provide the majority of the Integrated Care Management in the ICT. The Member's assigned PCP will be a primary source of assessment information, care plan development and Member interaction within the ICT. The PCP will regularly (frequency depends on the Member's medical conditions and status) assess the Member's medical conditions, develop appropriate care plans, request consultations, evaluations and care from other Providers both within and,
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when necessary, outside the Molina Network. The Molina Integrated Care Management Team will also provide assessments, care plan development and individualized care goals.
v. The Integrated Care Management Team will be primarily involved during assessment periods, individualized care plan follow-up, transitions of care settings, routine case management follow-up, and significant changes in the Member's health status. In addition, the Care management team will be involved after referral from other Molina Staff (i.e., Utilization Management staff, Pharmacists), requests for assistance from PCPs, requests for assistance from Members/caregivers. Transitions in care and significant changes in health status that need follow-up will be detected when services requiring prior authorization are requested by the Member's PCP or other Providers (signaling a transition in care or complex medical need). The PCP and Integrated Care Management Team will decide when additional ICT meetings are necessary and will schedule them on "as needed" basis.
vi. The ICT will hold regular case conferences for Members with complex health care needs and/or complex transition issues. Members will be chosen for case conferences based on need as identified by the Molina Integrated Care Management Team, when referred by their Provider or at the request of the Member/caregiver. All members of the ICT will be invited to participate in the case conference. Members and/or their caregivers will be invited to participate when feasible. The Molina CM will provide a case conference summary for each Member case discussed. The summary is then reviewed with the Member to ensure that he/she is comfortable with the plan of care. The Care Plan is updated with the Member agreement based on the case conference recommendations to align with Providers' treatment plans. Case conference summaries will be provided to all applicable ICT members as determined by the Member or their representative upon request.
vii. Communication between ICT members will be compliant with all applicable HIPAA regulations and will occur in multiple ways including: The Molina CM may facilitate sharing of Member's health and LTSS records from ICT Providers before, during, and after transitions in care and during significant changes in the health status of Members, for those health services that require prior authorization, or during the course of regular case management activities Through consultations among those involved in the Member's care, which include as warranted county BH Case Managers, social workers, psychiatrists, home health workers, PCPs, Molina medical directors, pharmacists, dieticians, medical specialists, LTSS Providers and agencies, family members, and other caregivers
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Case conference summaries available to all Members and active members of the ICT based on Member preference.
Updated ICPs are reviewed and shared with members of the ICT as often as determined by regulatory requirements, with significant changes in health status, or at minimum annually by clinical Molina staff in conjunction with annual Health Risk Assessments.
Additional opportunities for review and revision of care plans may exist when ICT members become aware of member transitions in health care settings or significant changes in Member health care status.
10. Provider Network - The Molina Medicare SNP maintains a network of Providers and facilities that has a special expertise in the care of Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans Members. The population served in Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans has a disproportionate share of physical and mental/behavioral health disabilities. Molina's network is designed to provide access to medical care for the Molina Medicare SNP population.
The Molina Medicare SNP Network has facilities with special expertise to care for its SNP Members including: Acute Care Hospitals Long Term Acute Care Facilities Skilled Nursing Facilities Rehabilitation Facilities (Outpatient and Inpatient) Mental/Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse Inpatient Facilities Mental/Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse Outpatient Facilities Outpatient Surgery Centers (Hospital-based and Freestanding) Laboratory Facilities (Hospital-based and Freestanding) Radiology Imaging Centers (Hospital-based and Freestanding) Renal Dialysis Centers Emergency Departments (Hospital-based) Urgent Care Centers (Hospital-based and Freestanding) Diabetes Education Centers (Hospital-based)
The Molina Medicare SNP has a large community based network of medical and ancillary Providers with many having special expertise to care for the unique needs of its SNP Members including: Primary Care Providers Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatric Medical Specialists (all medical specialties) including specifically Orthopedics,
Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Radiology and General Surgery. Mental/Behavioral Health Providers Psychiatry, clinical psychology, Masters or above level licensed clinical social work, certified substance abuse specialist.
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Ancillary Providers Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech/ language pathology, chiropractic, podiatry.
Nursing professionals Registered nurses, nurse providers, nurse educators.
Molina determines Provider and facility licensure and competence through the credentialing process. Molina has a rigorous credentialing process for all Providers and facilities that must be passed in order to join the Molina Medicare SNP Network. The Molina Credentialing Team gathers information and performs primary source verification (when appropriate) of training, active licensure, board certification, appropriate facility accreditation (JCAHO or state), malpractice coverage, malpractice history (National Practitioner Provider Data Bank reports), Medicare opt out status, Medicare/Medicaid sanctions, state licensure sanctions.
After credentialing information file is complete and primary source verification obtained the Provider or facility is presented to the Molina Professional Review Committee (PRC). The PRC consists of Molina Network physicians who are in active practice as well as Molina Medical Directors. The PRC decides on granting network participation status to Providers who have gone through the credentialing process based on criteria including active licensure, board certification (may be waived to assure Member access when there is geographic need or access problems), freedom from sanctions and freedom from an excessive malpractice case history. Providers and facilities that have passed initial credentialing must go through a re-credentialing process every three (3) years utilizing the same criteria as the initial credentialing process. In addition the PRC performs ongoing monitoring for licensure status, sanctions, Medicare opt out status, Member complaint reports and peer review actions on a monthly basis (or quarterly for some reporting).
The Member's PCP is primarily responsible for determining what medical services a Member needs. For Members receiving treatment primarily through specialist physician, the specialist may be primarily responsible for determining needed medical services. The PCP is assisted by the Molina Care Management Team, medical specialty consultants, ancillary Providers, mental/behavioral health Providers and Members or their caregivers in making these determinations. For Members undergoing transitions in health care settings, facility staff (hospital, SNF, home health, etc.) may also be involved in making recommendations or assisting with access to needed services. For those services that require prior authorization the Molina Care Management Team will assist Providers and Members in determining medical necessity, available network resources (and out of network resources where necessary). The Molina Care Management portion of the ICT will assist in finding access when difficulties arise for certain services.
A primary way that the Molina Provider Network coordinates with the ICT is via the Molina Medicare SNP Prior Authorization process. Molina's Medicare SNP Prior Authorization requirements have been designed to identify Members who are experiencing transitions in health care settings or have complex or unresolved health care needs. Molina Members undergoing transitions in health care settings or experiencing
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complex or unresolved health care issues usually require services that are prior authorized. This allows Members of the ICT to be made aware of the need for services and any changes in the Member's health status. Part of the process includes obtaining medical records and documenting in QNXT so that the ICT can track those changes. The Provider network will also communicate with the ICT when invited to attend ICT meetings, on an as needed basis by contacting the PCP or the Molina Care Management Team. Molina's electronic fax system allows for the transition of information from one Provider to another during transitions. Hospital inpatient information is provided to the PCP and/or treating Provider.
The Molina Medicare SNP will assure that specialized services are delivered in a timely and quality way by the following: Assuring that services requiring prior authorization are processed and that
notification is sent as soon as required by the Member's health but no later than timelines outlined in CMS regulations. Directing care to credentialed network Providers when appropriate. Monitoring access to care reports and grievance reports regarding timely or quality care.
Reports on services delivered will be maintained by the ICT primarily in the PCP medical record. The Molina Medicare SNP regularly audits the completeness of PCP medical records utilizing the annual PCP Medical Record Review process. The Molina Care Management Team will document relevant clinical notes on services and outcomes in QNXT and Clinical Care Advance platforms as appropriate to document significant changes in the Member's health care status or health care setting and to update care plans. A copy of the care plan will be provided to the PCP.
The Molina Medicare SNP ICT will be responsible for coordinating service delivery across care settings and Providers. The Member's assigned PCP will be responsible for initiating most transitions of care settings (e.g., hospital or SNF admissions) and referrals to specialty or ancillary Providers. The Molina Care Management Team will assist specifically with Prior Authorization, access issues and coordinating movement from one care setting to the next when Members experience a change in their health care status (e.g., hospital discharge planning).
The Molina Medicare SNP will use nationally recognized, evidence based clinical practice guidelines. Molina Medical Directors will select clinical practice guidelines that are relevant to the SNP population. These clinical practice guidelines will be communicated to Providers utilizing Provider newsletter and the Molina website. Molina will annually measure Provider compliance with important aspects of the clinical practice guidelines and report results to Providers.
11. Model of Care Training - The Molina Medicare SNP will provide initial and annual SNP Model of Care training to all employed and contracted personnel. Web based or in person Model of Care training will be offered initially to all Molina employees who have
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not completed such training and to all new employees. Verification of employee training will be through attendance logs for in person training or certificate of completion of web based training program.
All Molina Providers have access to SNP Model of Care training via the Molina website. Providers may also participate in webinar or in person training sessions on the SNP Model of Care. Molina will issue a written request to Providers to participate in Model of Care training. Due to the very large community based network of Providers and their participation in multiple Medicare SNPs it is anticipated that many Providers will not accept the invitation to complete training. The Molina Provider Services Department will identify key groups that have large numbers of Molina's Medicare SNP Members and will conduct specific in person trainings with those groups. The development of model of care training materials will be the responsibility of a designated Molina Services Program Director or Medical Director. Implementation and oversight of completion of training will be the responsibility of a designated Molina Compliance staff (employees) and a designated Molina Provider Services staff (Providers). Employees will be required to complete training or undergo disciplinary action in accordance with Molina policies on completion of required training.
12. Communication - Molina will monitor and coordinate care for Members using an integrated communication system between Members/caregivers, the Molina ICT, other Molina staff, Providers and CMS. Communications structure includes the following elements: a. Molina utilizes state of the art telephonic communications systems for telephonic interaction between Molina staff and all other stakeholders with capabilities for call center queues, call center reporting, computer screen sharing (available only to Molina staff) and audio conferencing. Molina maintains Member and Provider services call centers during CMS mandated business hours and a Nurse Advice Line (after hours) that Members and Providers may use for communication and inquiries. Interactive voice response systems may be used for Member assessment data gathering as well as general health care reminders. Electronic fax capability and Molina's ePortal allow for the electronic transmission of data for authorization purposes and transitions between settings. Faxed and electronic information is maintained in the Member's Molina record.
b. For communication of a general nature Molina uses newsletters (Provider and Member), the Molina website and blast fax communications (Providers only). Molina may also use secure web based interfaces for Member assessment, staff training, Provider inquiries and Provider training.
c. For communication between Members of the ICT, Molina has available audio conferencing and audio video conferencing (Molina staff only). Most regular and ad-hoc ICT care management meetings will be held on a face-to-face basis with PCPs, other Providers and Member/caregivers joining via audio conferencing as needed.
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d. Written and fax documentation from Members and Providers (clinical records, appeals, grievances) when received will be routed through secure mail room procedures to appropriate parties for tracking and resolution.
e. Email communication may be exchanged with Providers and CMS.
f. Direct person-to-person communication may also occur between various stakeholders and Molina.
g. Molina Quality Improvement Committees and Sub-Committees will meet regularly on a face-to-face basis with Committee Members not able to attend in person attending via audio conferencing.
Tracking and documentation of communications occurs utilizing the following: a. The QNXT call tracking system will be used to document all significant
telephonic conversations regarding inquiries from Members/caregivers and Providers. All telephonically received grievances will be documented in the QNXT call tracking system. QNXT call tracking allows storage of a record of inquiries and grievances, status reporting and outcomes reporting.
b. Communication between ICT Members and/or stakeholders will be documented in QNXT call tracking, QNXT clinical modules or Case Management documentation electronic platform as appropriate. This documentation allows electronic status tracking and archiving of discussions. Written meeting summaries may be used when issues discussed are not easily documented using the electronic means documented above.
c. Written and faxed communications when received are stored in an electronic document storage solution and archived to preserve the data. Written documents related to appeals and grievances result in a call tracking entry made in QNXT call tracking when they are received allowing electronic tracking of status and resolution.
d. Email communication with stakeholders is archived in the Molina email server.
e. Direct person-to-person communication will result in a QNXT call tracking entry or a written summary depending on the situation.
f. Molina Committee meetings will result in official meeting minutes which will be archived for future reference.
A designated Molina Quality Improvement Director will have responsibility to oversee, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Molina Medicare SNP Communication Program.
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13. Performance and Health Outcomes Measurement - Molina collects, analyzes reports and acts on data evaluating the Model of Care. To evaluate the Model of Care, Molina may collect data from multiple sources including: a. Administrative (demographics, call center data) b. Authorizations c. CAHPS® d. Call Tracking e. Claims f. Clinical Care Advance (Care/Case/Disease Management Program data) g. Encounters h. HEDIS® i. HOS j. Medical Record Reviews k. Pharmacy l. Provider Access Survey m. Provider Satisfaction Survey n. Risk Assessments o. Utilization p. Chronic Disease Self-Management Plan (CDSMP) Assessment Results q. Case Management Satisfaction Survey
Molina will use internal Quality Improvement Specialists, External Survey Vendors and Healthcare Analysts to collect analyze and report on the above data using manual and electronic analysis. Data analyzed and reported on will demonstrate the following: a. Improved Member access to services and benefits. b. Improved health status. c. Adequate service delivery processes. d. Use of evidence based clinical practice guidelines for management of chronic
conditions. e. Participation by Members/caregivers and ICT Members in care planning. f. Utilization of supplementary benefits. g. Member use of communication mechanisms. h. Satisfaction with Molina's Case Management Program.
Molina will submit CMS required public reporting data including: a. HEDIS® Data b. SNP Structure and Process Measures c. Health Outcomes Survey d. CAHPS® Survey
Molina will submit CMS required reporting data including some of the following: a. Audits of health information for accuracy and appropriateness. b. Member/caregiver education for frequency and appropriateness. c. Clinical outcomes. d. Mental/Behavioral health/psychiatric services utilization rates.
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e. Complaints, grievances, services and benefits denials. f. Disease management indicators. g. Disease management referrals for timeliness and appropriateness. h. Emergency room utilization rates. i. Enrollment/disenrollment rates. j. Evidence-based clinical guidelines or protocols utilization rates. k. Fall and injury occurrences. l. Facilitation of Member developing advance directives/health proxy. m. Functional/ADLs status/deficits. n. Home meal delivery service utilization rates. o. Hospice referral and utilization rates. p. Hospital admissions/readmissions. q. Hospital discharge outreach and follow-up rates. r. Immunization rates. s. Medication compliance/utilization rates. t. Medication errors/adverse drug events. u. Medication therapy management effectiveness. v. Mortality reviews. w. Pain and symptoms management effectiveness. x. Policies and procedures for effectiveness and staff compliance. y. Preventive programs utilization rates (e.g., smoking cessation). z. Preventive screening rates. aa. Primary care visit utilization rates. bb. Satisfaction surveys for Members/caregivers. cc. Satisfaction surveys for Provider network. dd. Screening for depression and drug/alcohol abuse. ee. Screening for elder/physical/sexual abuse. ff. Skilled nursing facility placement/readmission rates. gg. Skilled nursing facility level of care Members living in the community having
admissions/readmissions to skilled nursing facilities. hh. Urinary incontinence rates. ii. Wellness program utilization rates.
Molina will use the above data collection, analysis and reporting to develop a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the Molina Model of Care. The evaluation will include identifying and acting on opportunities to improve the program. A designated Molina Quality Improvement Director and/or Medical Director will have responsibility for monitoring and evaluating the Molina SNP Model of Care. Molina will notify stakeholders of improvements to the Model of Care by posting the Model of Care Evaluation on its website.
14. Care Management for the Most Vulnerable Subpopulations - The Molina SNP will identify vulnerable sub-populations including frail/disabled, multiple chronic conditions, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and those nearing end of life by the following mechanisms:
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a. Risk assessments; b. Home visits; c. Predictive modeling; d. Claims data; e. Pharmacy data; f. Care/case/disease management activities; g. Self-referrals by Members/caregivers; h. Referrals from Member Services; and/or, i. Referrals from Providers.
Specific add-on services of most use to vulnerable sub-populations include: a. Case management; b. Disease management; and/or, c. Provider home visits.
The needs of the most vulnerable population will be met within the Molina SNP Model of Care by early identification and higher stratification/priority in Molina programs including Disease Management and Case Management. These Members will be managed more aggressively and more frequently by the ICT. This will assure that they are receiving all necessary services and that they have adequate care plans before, during and after transitions in health care settings or changes in health care status.
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8. Long Term Care and Services
Molina Duals Options Members have access to a variety of Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) to help them meet daily needs for assistance and improve quality of life. LTSS benefits are provided over an extended period, mainly in Member homes and communities, but also in facility-based settings such as nursing facilities as specified in his/her Individualized Care Plan. Overall, Molina's care team model promotes improved utilization of home and community-based services to avoid hospitalization and nursing facility care. Molina case managers will work closely with LTSS centers and staff to expedite evaluation and access to services.
LTSS includes all of the following: Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) Long Term Care, Custodial Level of Care in a Nursing Facility
Molina Duals Options program available to members provides seamless coordination between medical care, LTSS, and mental health and substance use benefits covered by Medicare and Medi-Cal. Much of this coordination requires stronger partnership between Molina and county agencies that provide certain LTSS benefits and services. The MOU between Molina and county agencies delineates roles and responsibilities, and processes for referrals and will serve as the foundation for such coordination efforts.
A. CBAS
CBAS is a community-based day health program for older adults and adults with chronic medical, cognitive or mental health conditions, or disabilities who are at risk of needing institutional care. This program used to be called Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) and on October 1, 2012 it became a Medi-Cal Managed Care benefit. Medi-Cal Members eligible for CBAS, including dual eligible beneficiaries, must enroll in a managed care health plan to receive these services.
CBAS services allow Members to receive nursing and social services, therapies, personal attendant services, family/caregiver training and support, meals, and case management in one central location. Additional services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, mental health services, registered dietitian services and transportation may be available to Members based on their Individualized Care Plans.
To be eligible to receive CBAS services, one of the following criteria's must be met: Nursing facility level A eligible. Chronic acquired or traumatic brain injury or chronic mental health. Alzheimer's disease or other dementia stage 5, 6, 7. Mild cognitive impairment, including stage 4 dementia.
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Developmental disability. A physician, nurse practitioner or other health care Provider has within his/her scope
of practice requested ADHC services. Member must need supervision with two (2) or more of the following activities of
daily living: bathing, dressing, self-feeding, toileting, ambulation, transferring, money management, accessing resources, meal preparation or transportation.
What services are included in CBAS?
Members may receive the following core services: Professional nursing. Social and/or personal care. Therapeutic activities. One (1) meal offered per day.
Molina case managers will work closely with CBAS centers and staff to expedite evaluation/access to services. Members may also receive any of the following additional services as specified in his/her Individualized Care Plan: Physical therapy Occupational therapy Speech therapy Mental health services Registered dietitian services Transportation to/from CBAS center and place of residence
How to refer Members in need of CBAS services: Complete & fax CBAS Request for Services Form at: (800) 811-4804 For more information or if you have any questions, please call MHC Utilization
Management Department at: (800) 526-8196 or Member Services Department at (855) 665-4627.
B. IHSS
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a California program that provides in-home care for Members who cannot safely remain in their own homes without assistance. To qualify for IHSS, Members must be over sixty-five (65) years of age, or disabled, or blind and in most cases, have income below the level to qualify for the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program. By providing in-home assistance to low income aged and disabled individuals, the IHSS program prevents premature nursing home or board and care placement and allows people to remain safely in their own homes and communities.
IHSS is covered under the Medi-Cal benefit will be integrated/coordinated by Molina. Molina Healthcare of California coordinates IHSS benefits for eligible enrollees through county IHSS agencies. IHSS remains an entitlement program. IHSS consumers' continue
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to self-direct their care by hiring, firing, and managing their IHSS workers. County social services agencies conduct the IHSS assessment and authorization processes, including determining IHSS hours. The current fair hearing process for IHSS will remain during the initial years of the demonstration. Molina Healthcare of California pays for IHSS hours for which an enrollee has been deemed eligible by the county IHSS agency.
What services are included in IHSS? Housecleaning Meal preparation and clean-up Laundry Grocery shopping and errands Personal care services (bowel/bladder care, bathing, paramedical service, etc.) Accompaniment to medical appointments Protective supervision for persons with cognitive or intellectual disabilities
What is Self-Directed Care?
One of the most noteworthy aspects of the IHSS program is the beneficiaries' ability to self-direct their care. Self-directed care is the process by which the IHSS consumer, who meets the eligibility criteria for IHSS, chooses to hire, train, supervise, and if necessary fire the personal assistant. In situations where due to intellectual and/or cognitive deficits, Molina case managers coordinate with county social workers to ensure that a public guardian or conservator can be appointed to provide oversight.
How to refer Molina Members in need of IHSS Services: Providers needing to make a referral should call Member Services at (855) 665-4627
or the Case Management department at (800) 526-8196, Ext. 127604, or email MHCCaseManagement@MolinaHealthcare.com and request assistance in referring the Member for IHSS and other community resources. Members can also call or visit their local County Social Services agency to verify eligibility and begin the application process. The Health Certification Form will be sent to the Member by the county social worker.
It is important to note that the application process cannot continue until the
physician has completed it.
Sacramento County (Dept. of Human Assistance):
(916) 874-2072
San Diego County (Dept. of Health & Human Services): (866) 262-9881
Riverside County (Dept. of Public Social Services):
(800) 274-2050
San Bernardino County (Dept. of Human Services):
(877) 410-8829
Los Angeles County (Dept. of Public Social Services): (888) 944-4477
C. MSSP
Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) provides social and health care management for frail elders who are eligible for placement in a nursing facility but who
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wish to remain in the community. The goal of the program is to arrange for and monitor the use of community services to prevent or delay premature institutional placement of these frail clients. The services must be provided at a cost lower than that for nursing facility care.
Molina Members may be eligible for MSSP if they are sixty-five (65) years of age or older, live within an MSSP site's service area, be able to be served within MSSP's cost limitations, be appropriate for care management services, currently eligible for Medi-Cal, and certified or certifiable for placement in a nursing facility. MSSP site staff makes this certification determination based upon Medi-Cal criteria for placement.
What services are included in MSSP? Adult day care Housing assistance Chore and personal care assistance Protective supervision Care management Respite Transportation Meal services Social services Communications services
How to refer Molina Members in need of MSSP Services:
MHC Case Management staff monitors and reviews Members to determine appropriate utilization of services and to identify Members who may potentially benefit from the MSSP program.
Providers needing to make a referral should call our Case Management department at FAX: (562) 499-6105, PHONE: (800) 526-8196, Ext. 127604, or MHCCaseManagement@MolinaHealthcare.com and request assistance in referring the Member for MSSP and other community resources.
It is the responsibility of the health plan to ensure that potentially eligible Members are referred to the MSSP program in a timely manner.
The health plan's Case Management staff and PCP shall work with the MSSP Waiver Case Management Team to coordinate appropriate services.
Once the Case Manager is notified of a Member with a potential need for support or care, he/she initiates the request for medical records from the Member's PCP. If MSSP care is not indicated, no referral is made and the Member and/or family member is notified by the Case Manager and the PCP continues to case manage. If MSSP care is indicated, a
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case conference shall be conducted with the Member and/or family, PCP, specialist, ancillary Provider/Practitioners, and Case Manager. The case conference is coordinated by the MSSP Case Management Team.
Case Management Process
If the Member is determined to be eligible for program referral to the MSSP, MHC or affiliated subcontracted plan Case Manager shall actively participate in the MSSP Case Management Team to develop a comprehensive case management plan. The Case Manager will assist the MSSP team to ensure timely, effective, and efficiently coordinated services to meet the Member's care plan goals.
D. Long Term Care (LTC) /Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
LTC is the provision of medical, social, and personal care services (above the level of room and board) that are not available in the community and are needed regularly due to a mental or physical condition. LTC is generally provided in a facility-based setting such as a SNF.
Under current State policy, a beneficiary enrolled in a health plan is no longer disenrolled from that plan when a SNF stay exceeds two months. Under the CCI, the beneficiary remains enrolled in a Managed Care health plan. The plan will continue to pay for the SNF care and coordinates health care services for the beneficiary for the entire time they reside in a SNF.
Medi-Cal beneficiaries receiving SNF/LTC services must join a Managed Care health plan for their Medi-Cal benefits. SNFs will get paid by the Medi-Cal health plan at the same relevant reimbursement rate depending on whether the stay is a Medicare or MediCal benefit.
E. Behavioral Health and Substance Use Services
Mental and emotional well-being is essential to overall health. Sound mental health allows people to realize their full potential, live more independent lives, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Reducing the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses is important to utilization of effective mental health treatment. Identifying and integrating mental health needs into traditional health care, social service, community is particularly important.
The following benefits are available to Molina Duals Option Members and is a responsibility of the Health Plan: Mental health hospitalization Mental health outpatient services Psychotropic Drugs Mental health services within the scope of primary care physician
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Psychologists Psychiatrists
Medi-Cal specialty mental health services are available through the county mental health plan (MHP) if the Member meets Medi-Cal specialty mental health services medical necessity criteria, including: Mental health services (assessment, therapy, rehabilitation, collateral, and plan
development) Medication support services Day treatment intensive Day rehabilitation Crisis intervention and stabilization Adult residential treatment services Crisis residential treatment services Psychiatric health facility services Psychiatric inpatient hospital services Targeted case management
For Crisis Prevention and Behavioral Health Emergencies please contact our Nurse Advice Line available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (888) 275-8750 / TTY: 711.
For Molina Duals Option Members requiring Mental Health/Behavioral Health services or to make a referral, please note the following: Refer to Molina Prior Authorization requirements.
o Behavioral health participating Providers should fax the Molina Inpatient/PHP/IOP/Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Request form to Molina as soon as possible, prior to the 20th outpatient visit, for outpatient treatment to (866) 472-0596.
o If the request is for inpatient behavioral health, Partial Hospitalization or Intensive Outpatient Program for psychiatric or substance use disorders, the Molina Healthcare Inpatient/PHP/IOP/Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Request form should be faxed as soon as possible to the same number at (866) 472-0596. If the admission is an emergency, the form should be faxed as soon as possible to (866) 472-0596.
o For non-participating Molina Providers, the form should be faxed prior to initiating treatment, unless for an emergency psychiatric admission. If the admission is an emergency, the form should be faxed as soon as possible to (866) 472-0596.
o Molina Behavioral Health RN may call the behavioral health Provider for additional clinical information, particularly if the Molina Inpatient/PHP/IOP/Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Request form is not completely filled out.
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For Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment and Services, Molina adheres to Title 22, California Code of Regulations Section 51303, for covered services when determined to be medically necessary and coordinates with county alcohol and substance abuse services for applicable services. Molina provides inpatient medical detoxification and alcohol misuse counseling and refers to the respective County Alcohol and Drug Services for day care rehabilitation (for pregnant women, substance use disorders), outpatient individual and group counseling (substance use disorders), and methadone maintenance therapy.
For any questions, please contact Molina Member Services at (800) 526-8196.
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9. Members' Rights and Responsibilities
Providers must comply with the rights and responsibilities of Molina Members as outlined in the Molina Evidence of Coverage (EOC). The EOC that is provided to Members annually is hereby incorporated into this Provider Manual.
State and Federal Law requires that health care Providers and health care facilities recognize Member rights while the Members are receiving medical care, and that Members respect the health care Provider's or health care facility's right to expect certain behavior on the part of the Members.
For additional information, please contact Molina at (855) 665-4627 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., local time. TTY/TDD users, please call 711.
Second Opinions
If a Member does not agree with the Provider's plan of care, the Member has the right to request, at no cost, a second opinion from another Provider. Members should call Member Services to find out how to get a second opinion. Second opinions may require Prior Authorization.
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10. Provider Responsibilities
Nondiscrimination of Health Care Service Delivery
Molina complies with the guidance set forth in the final rule for Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which includes notification of nondiscrimination and instructions for accessing language services in all significant Member materials, physical locations that serve our Members, and all Molina website home pages. All Providers who join the Molina Provider network must also comply with the provisions and guidance set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Molina requires Providers to deliver services to Molina Members without regard to race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. This includes gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and sex stereotyping. Providers must post a non-discrimination notification in a conspicuous location of their office along with translated non-English taglines in the top fifteen (15) languages spoken in the state to ensure Molina Members understand their rights, how to access language services, and the process to file a complaint if they believe discrimination has occurred.
Additionally, Participating Providers or contracted medical groups/IPAs may not limit their practices because of a Member's medical (physical or mental) condition or the expectation for the need of frequent or high-cost care. Providers must not discriminate against enrollees based on their payment status and cannot refuse to serve Members because they receive assistance with Medicare cost sharing from a State Medicaid Program.
Section 1557 Investigations
All Molina Providers shall disclose all investigations conducted pursuant to Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to Molina's Civil Rights Coordinator.
Molina Healthcare Civil Rights Coordinator 200 Oceangate, Suite 100 Long Beach, CA 90802
Toll Free: (866) 606-3889 TTY/TDD: 711
On Line: https://MolinaHealthcare.AlertLine.com Email: civil.rights@MolinaHealthcare.com
Facilities, Equipment and Personnel
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The Provider's facilities, equipment, personnel and administrative services must be at a level and quality necessary to perform duties and responsibilities to meet all applicable legal requirements including the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Provider Data Accuracy and Validation
It is important for Providers to ensure Molina has accurate practice and business information. Accurate information allows us to better support and serve our Provider Network and Members.
Maintaining an accurate and current Provider Directory is a State and Federal regulatory requirement, as well as an NCQA© required element. Invalid information can negatively impact Member access to care, Member assignments and referrals. Additionally, current information is critical for timely and accurate claims processing.
Providers must validate the Provider Online Directory (POD) information at least quarterly for correctness and completeness. Providers must notify Molina in writing at least thirty (30) days in advance, when possible, of changes such as, but not limited to: Change in office location(s), office hours, phone, fax, or email Addition or closure of office location(s) Addition or termination of a Provider (within an existing clinic/practice) Change in Tax ID and/or NPI Opening or closing your practice to new patients (PCPs only) Any other information that may impact Member access to care
Please visit our Provider Online Directory at https://providersearch.MolinaHealthcare.com to validate your information. Please notify your Provider Services Representative if your information needs to be updated or corrected.
Note: Some changes may impact credentialing. Providers are required to notify Molina of changes to credentialing information in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Credentialing section of this Provider Manual.
Molina is required to audit and validate our Provider Network data and Provider Directories on a routine basis. As part of our validation efforts, we may reach out to our Network of Providers through various methods, such as: letters, phone campaigns, face-to-face contact, fax and faxback verification, etc. Providers are required to provide timely responses to such communications.
Molina Electronic Solutions Requirements
Molina requires Providers to utilize electronic solutions and tools.
Molina requires all contracted Providers to participate in and comply with Molina's Electronic Solution Requirements, which include, but are not limited to, electronic submission of prior
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authorization requests, health plan access to electronic medical records (EMR), electronic claims submission, electronic fund transfers (EFT), electronic remittance advice (ERA) and registration for and use of Molina's Provider Portal (Provider Portal).
Electronic claims include claims submitted via a clearinghouse using the EDI process and claims submitted through the Molina Provider Portal.
Any Provider insisting on paper claims submission and payment via paper check will be ineligible for Contracted Provider status within the Molina network.
Any Provider entering the network as a Contracted Provider will be required to comply with Molina's Electronic Solution Policy by registering for Molina's Provider Portal, and submitting electronic claims upon entry into the network. Providers entering the network as a Contracted Provider must enroll for EFT/ERA payments within thirty (30) days of entering the Molina network.
If a Provider does not comply with Molina's Electronic Solution Requirements, the Provider's claim will be denied.
Electronic Solutions/Tools Available to Providers
Electronic Tools/Solutions available to Molina Providers include: Electronic Claims Submission Options Electronic Payment (Electronic Funds Transfer) with Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) Provider Portal
Electronic Claims Submission Requirement
Molina requires Participating Providers to submit claims electronically. Electronic claims submission provides significant benefits to the Provider including: Ensures HIPAA compliance. Helps to reduce operational costs associated with paper claims (printing, postage, etc.). Increases accuracy of data and efficient information delivery. Reduces Claim delays since errors can be corrected and resubmitted electronically. Eliminates mailing time and Claims reach Molina faster.
Molina offers the following electronic Claims submission options: Submit Claims directly to Molina via the Provider Portal. See our Provider Portal Quick
Reference Guide https://provider.MolinaHealthcare.com or contact your Provider Services Representative for registration and Claim submission guidance. Submit Claims to Molina through your EDI clearinghouse using Payer ID 38333, refer to our website www.MolinaHealthcare.com for additional information.
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While both options are embraced by Molina, Providers submitting claims via Molina's Provider Portal (available to all Providers at no cost) offers a number of claims processing benefits beyond the possible cost savings achieved from the reduction of high-cost paper claims including: Ability to add attachments to claims. Submit corrected claims. Easily and quickly void claims. Check claims status. Receive timely notification of a change in status for a particular claim.
For more information on EDI Claims submission, see the Claims and Compensation Section of this Provider Manual.
Electronic Payment (EFT/ERA) Requirement
Participating Providers are required to enroll for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA). Providers enrolled in EFT payments will automatically receive ERAs as well. EFT/ERA services allow Providers to reduce paperwork, the ability to have searchable ERAs, and to receive payment and ERA access faster than the paper check and RA processes. There is no cost to the Provider for EFT enrollment, and Providers are not required to be innetwork to enroll. Molina uses a vendor to facilitate the HIPAA compliant EFT payment and ERA delivery.
Below is the link to register with Change Healthcare Provider Net to receive electronic payments and remittance advices. Additional instructions on how to register are available under the EDI/ERA/EFT tab on Molina's website: www.MolinaHealthcare.com.
Any questions during this process should be directed to Change Healthcare Provider Services at wco.provider.registration@changehealthcare.com or (877) 389-1160.
Provider Portal
Providers are required to register for and utilize Molina's Provider Web Portal (Provider Portal). The Provider Portal is an easy to use, online tool available to all of our Providers at no cost. The Provider Portal offers the following functionality: Verify and print Member eligibility Claims Functions
o Professional and Institutional Claims (individual or multiple claims)
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o Receive notification of Claims status change o Correct Claims o Void Claims o Add attachments to previously submitted claims o Check Claims status o Export Claims reports o Appeal Claims Prior Authorizations/Service Requests o Create and submit Prior Authorization Requests o Check status of Authorization Requests Receive notification of change in status of Authorization Requests View HEDIS® Scores and compare to national benchmarks
Balance Billing
Providers contracted with Molina cannot bill the Member for any covered benefits. The Provider is responsible for verifying eligibility and obtaining approval for those services that require prior authorization.
Providers may not charge Members fees for covered services beyond copayments or coinsurance.
Providers agree that under no circumstance shall a Member be liable to the Provider for any sums owed by Molina to the Provider. Members who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid shall not be held liable for Medicare Part A and B cost sharing when the State or another payer such as a Medicaid Managed Care Plan is responsible for paying such amounts. Balance billing a Medicare and/or Medicaid Member for Medicare and/or Medicaid covered services is prohibited by Law. This includes asking the Member to pay the difference between the discounted and negotiated fees, and the Provider's usual and customary fees.
For additional information please refer to the Claims and Compensation and the Compliance sections of this Provider Manual.
Member Information and Marketing
Any written informational or marketing materials directed to Molina Members must be developed and distributed in a manner compliant with all State and Federal Laws and regulations and be approved by Molina prior to use. Please contact your Provider Services Representative for information and review of proposed materials.
Member Rights and Responsibilities
Providers are required comply with the Member Rights and Responsibilities as outlined in Member materials (such as Member Evidence of Coverage documents). A link to these rights
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and responsibilities is available in the Member Rights and Responsibilities section of this Provider Manual.
Member Eligibility Verification
Providers should verify eligibility of Molina Members prior to rendering services. Payment for services rendered is based on enrollment and benefit eligibility. The contractual agreement between Providers and Molina places the responsibility for eligibility verification on the Provider of services.
Possession of a Molina Dual Options ID Card does not guarantee Member eligibility or coverage. A Provider must verify a recipient's eligibility each time the recipient presents to their office for services. More information on Member eligibility verification options is available in the Eligibility, Enrollment, Disenrollment and Grace Period section of this Manual.
Healthcare Services (Utilization Management and Case Management)
Providers are required to participate in and comply with Molina's Healthcare Services programs and initiatives. Clinical documentation necessary to complete medical review and decision making is to be submitted to Molina through electronic channels such as the Provider Portal. Clinical documentation can be attached as a file and submitted securely through the Provider Portal.
Please see the Healthcare Services section of the Manual for additional details about these and other Healthcare Services programs.
In Office Laboratory Tests
Molina's policies allow only certain lab tests to be performed in a physician's office regardless of the line of business. All other lab testing must be referred to an In-Network Laboratory Provider that is a certified, full service laboratory, offering a comprehensive test menu that includes routine, complex, drug, genetic testing and pathology. A list of those lab services that are allowed to be performed in the physician's office is found on the Molina website at www.MolinaHealthcare.com.
For more information about In-Network Laboratory Providers, please consult the Molina Provider Directory (https://providersearch.MolinaHealthcare.com/). For testing available through In-Network Laboratory Providers, or for a list of In-Network Laboratory Provider patient services centers, please reach out to the In-Network Laboratory Provider.
Specimen collection is allowed in a physician's office and shall be compensated in accordance with your agreement with Molina Healthcare and applicable state and federal billing and payment rules and regulations.
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Claims for tests performed in the physician office, but not on Molina's list of allowed in- office laboratory tests will be denied.
Referrals
A referral is necessary when a Provider determines Medically Necessary services are beyond the scope of the PCP's practice or it is necessary to consult or obtain services from other in-network specialty health professionals (please refer to the Healthcare Services section of this Manual). Information is to be exchanged between the PCP and Specialist to coordinate care of the patient to ensure continuity of care. Providers need to document in the patient's medical record any referrals that are made. Documentation needs to include the specialty, services requested, and diagnosis for which the referral is being made.
Providers should direct Members to health professionals, hospitals, laboratories, and other facilities and Providers which are contracted and credentialed (if applicable) with Molina Healthcare Dual Options. In the case of urgent and Emergency Services, Providers may direct Members to an appropriate service including but not limited to primary care, urgent care and Emergency Services. There may be circumstances in which referrals may require an out of network Provider; prior authorization will be required from Molina except in the case of Emergency Services.
PCPs are able to refer a Member to an in-network specialist for consultation and treatment without a referral request to Molina.
Admissions
Providers are required to comply with Molina's facility admission, prior authorization, and Medical Necessity review determination procedures.
Participation in Utilization Review and Care Management Programs
Providers are required to participate in and comply with Molina's utilization review and Care Management programs, including all policies and procedures regarding prior authorizations. This includes the use of an electronic solution for the submission of documentation required for medical review and decision making. Providers will also cooperate with Molina in audits to identify, confirm, and/or assess utilization levels of covered services.
Continuity and Coordination of Provider Communication
Molina stresses the importance of timely communication between Providers involved in a Member's care. This is especially critical between specialists, including behavioral health Providers, and the Member's PCP. Information should be shared in such a manner as to facilitate communication of urgent needs or significant findings.
Treatment Alternatives and Communication with Members
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Molina endorses open Provider-Member communication regarding appropriate treatment alternatives and any follow up care. Molina promotes open discussion between Provider and Members regarding Medically Necessary or appropriate patient care, regardless of covered benefits limitations. Providers are free to communicate any and all treatment options to Members regardless of benefit coverage limitations. Providers are also encouraged to promote and facilitate training in self-care and other measures Members may take to promote their own health.
Pregnancy Notification Process
The PCP shall submit to Molina the Pregnancy Notification Report Form (available at www.MolinaHealthcare.com) within one (1) working day of the first prenatal visit and/or positive pregnancy test of any Member presenting themselves for healthcare services. The form should be faxed to Molina at (855) 556-1424.
Prescriptions
Providers are required to adhere to Molina's drug formularies and prescription policies.
Pain Safety Initiative (PSI) Resources
Safe and appropriate opioid prescribing and utilization is a priority for all of us in health care. Molina requires Providers to adhere to Molina's drug formularies and prescription policies designed to prevent abuse or misuse of high-risk chronic pain medication. Providers are expected to offer additional education and support to Members regarding Opioid and pain safety as needed.
Molina is dedicated to ensuring Providers are equipped with additional resources, which can be found on the Molina Provider website. Providers may access additional Opioid-safety and Substance Use Disorder resources at www.MolinaHealthcare.com under the Health Resource tab. Please consult with your Provider Services representative or reference the medication formulary for more information on Molina's Pain Safety Initiatives.
Participation in Quality Programs
Providers are expected to participate in Molina's Quality Programs and collaborate with Molina in conducting peer review and audits of care rendered by Providers.
Additional information regarding Quality Programs is available in the Quality section of this Manual.
Access to Care Standards
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Molina is committed to providing timely access to care for all Members in a safe and healthy environment. Molina will ensure Providers offer hours of operation no less than offered to commercial Members. Access standards have been developed to ensure that all health care services are provided in a timely manner. The PCP or designee must be available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week to Members for Emergency Services. This access may be by telephone. For additional information about appointment access standards please refer to the Quality section of this Manual.
Site and Medical Record-Keeping Practice Reviews
As a part of Molina's Quality Improvement Program, Providers are required to maintain compliance with certain standards for safety, confidentiality, and record keeping practices in their practices.
Providers are required to maintain an accurate and readily available individual medical record for each Member to whom services are rendered. Providers are to initiate a medical record upon the Member's first visit. The Member's medical record (electronic preferred or hard copy) should contain all information required by State and Federal Law, generally accepted and prevailing professional practice, applicable government sponsored health programs and all Molina's policies and procedures. Providers are to retain all such records for a minimum of ten (10) years and retained further if the records are under review or audit until the review or audit is complete.
CMS has specific guidelines for the retention and disposal of Medicare records. Please refer to CMS General Information, Eligibility, and Entitlement Manual, Chapter 7, Chapter 30.30 for guidance.
Delivery of Patient Care Information
Providers must comply with all State and Federal Laws, and other applicable regulatory and contractual requirements to promptly deliver any Member information requested by Molina for use in conjunction with utilization review and management, grievances, peer review, HEDIS® Studies, Molina's Quality Programs, or claims payment. Providers will further provide direct access to patient care information (hard copy or electronic) as requested by Molina and/or as required to any governmental agency or any appropriate State and Federal authority having jurisdiction.
Compliance
Providers must comply with all State and Federal Laws and regulations related to the care and management of Molina Members.
Confidentiality of Member Protected Health Information (PHI) and HIPAA Transactions
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Molina requires that Providers respect the privacy of Molina Members (including Molina Members who are not patients of the Provider) and comply with all applicable Laws and regulations regarding the privacy of patient and Member PHI.
Additionally, Providers must comply with all HIPAA TCI (transactions, code sets, and identifiers) regulations. Providers must obtain a National Provider Identifier (NPI) and use their NPI in HIPAA Transactions, including claims submitted to Molina.
Participation in Grievance and Appeals Programs
Providers are required to participate in Molina's Grievance Program and cooperate with Molina in identifying, processing, and promptly resolving all Member complaints, grievances, or inquiries. If a Member has a complaint regarding a Provider, the Provider will participate in the investigation of the grievance. If a Member appeals, the Provider will participate by providing medical records and/or statement as needed. This includes the maintenance and retention of Member records for a period of not less than ten (10) years, and retained further if the records are under review or audit until such time that the review or audit is complete.
Please refer to the Complains, Grievance, and Appeals Process section of this Manual for additional information regarding this program.
Participation in Credentialing
Providers are required to participate in Molina's credentialing and re-credentialing process and will satisfy, throughout the term of their contract, all credentialing and re-credentialing criteria established by Molina and applicable state and federal requirements. This includes providing prompt responses to requests for information related to the credentialing or re-credentialing process.
Providers must notify Molina no less than thirty (30) days in advance when they relocate or open an additional office. When this notification is received, a site review of the new office may be conducted before the Provider's recredentialing date.
More information about Molina's Credentialing program, including Policies and Procedures is available in the Credentialing section of this Provider Manual.
Delegation
Delegated entities must comply with the terms and conditions outlined in Molina's Delegation Policies and Delegated Services Addendum. Please see the Delegation section of this Provider Manual for more information about Molina's delegation requirements and delegation oversight.
Membership Panel Form
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All IPAs and direct providers are required to notify MHC of changes made to Membership Panels. Timely submission of this information is vital for maintaining an up-to-date provider directory and allows our Members to accurately identify which Providers, in our network, are accepting new patients. The Membership Panel Form enables IPAs and direct Providers to feasibly modify their membership panels and inform MHC of those modifications.
IPAs and direct Providers are requested to submit the Membership Panel form on the next page when there is a change in regards to accepting new Members. Providers affiliated to IPAs should submit the required information directly to their IPAs as appropriate.
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Provider Name NPI Street Address City, State, Zip Code Phone Number IPA Affiliation/Group Name and/or Pay to Affiliation Accepting New Members?
Medi-Cal
Yes No
Covered CA/ Marketplace
Yes
No
Medicare
Yes No
Cal MediConnect
Yes
No
Please mail or fax the completed form to one of the appropriate locations listed below. For providers affiliated with IPAs, please submit the required information directly to your IPA, who will submit the information to MHC.
Los Angeles 200 Oceangate, Suite 100 Long Beach, CA 90802 Attn: Provider Services Fax: (855) 278-0312 Phone: (562) 499-6191
Riverside/San Bernardino 550 E. Hospitality Ln, Suite100 San Bernardino, CA 92408 Attn: Provider Services Fax: (909) 890-4403 Phone: (800) 232-9998
San Diego 9275 Sky Park Ct, Suite 400 San Diego, CA 92123 Attn: Provider Services Fax: (858) 503-1210 Phone: (858) 614-1580
Imperial 1607 W. Main St.
El Centro, CA 92243 Attn: Provider Services Fax: (760) 679-5705 Phone: (760) 679-5680
Sacramento 2180 Harvard St., Suite 500
Sacramento, CA 95815 Attn: Provider Services Fax: (916) 561-8559 Phone: (916) 561-8540
Name of individual completing this form: _______________________________________________ Signature of individual completing this form: ____________________________________________ Phone Number: ____________________________________________ Date: __________ /__________ / __________ If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Provider Services Representative.
MolinaHealthcare.com
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11. Cultural Competency and Linguistic Services
Background
Molina works to ensure all Members receive culturally competent care across the service continuum to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes. The Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care (CLAS) standards published by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Minority Health (OMH) guide the activities to deliver culturally competent services. Molina complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other regulatory/contract requirements. Compliance ensures the provision of linguistic access and disability-related access to all Members, including those with Limited English Proficiency and Members who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech or cognitive/intellectual impairments. Policies and procedures address how individuals and systems within the organization will effectively provide services to people of all cultures, races, ethnic backgrounds and religions as well as those with disabilities in a manner that recognizes values, affirms and respects the worth of the individuals and protects and preserves the dignity of each.
Additional information on cultural competency and linguistic services is available at www.MolinaHealthcare.com, from your local Provider Services Representative and by calling Molina Provider Services at (855)322-4075.
Nondiscrimination of Healthcare Service Delivery
Molina complies with the guidance set forth in the final rule for Section 1557 of the ACA, which includes notification of nondiscrimination and instructions for accessing language services in all significant Member materials, physical locations that serve our Members, and all Molina website home pages. All Providers who join the Molina Provider network must also comply with the provisions and guidance set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Molina requires Providers to deliver services to Molina Members without regard to race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. This includes gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and sex stereotyping. Providers must post a nondiscrimination notification in a conspicuous location of their office along with translated nonEnglish taglines in the top fifteen (15) languages spoken in the state to ensure Molina Members understand their rights, how to access language services, and the process to file a complaint if they believe discrimination has occurred.
Additionally, Participating Providers or contracted medical groups/IPAs may not limit their practices because of a Member's medical (physical or mental) condition or the expectation for the need of frequent or high cost-care. Providers must not discriminate against enrollees based on their payment status and cannot refuse to serve Members because they receive assistance with Medicare cost sharing from a State Medicaid Program. Providers can refer Molina Members who
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are complaining of discrimination to the Molina Civil Rights Coordinator at (866) 606-3889, or TTY, 711.
Members can also email the complaint to civil.rights@MolinaHealthcare.com.
Should you or a Molina Member need more information you can refer to the Health and Human Services website for more information: https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-11458
Molina Institute for Cultural Competency
Molina is committed to reducing healthcare disparities. Training employees, Providers and their staffs, and quality monitoring are the cornerstones of successful culturally competent service delivery. Molina founded the Molina Institute for Cultural Competency, which integrates Cultural Competency training into the overall Provider training and quality monitoring programs. An integrated quality approach intends to enhance the way people think about our Members, service delivery and program development so that cultural competency becomes a part of everyday thinking.
Provider and Community Training
Molina offers educational opportunities in cultural competency concepts for Providers, their staff, and Community Based Organizations. Molina conducts Provider training during Provider orientation with annual reinforcement training offered through Provider Services or online training modules.
Training modules, delivered through a variety of methods, include: 1. Written materials; 2. On-site cultural competency training delivered by Provider Services Representatives; 3. Access to enduring reference materials available through Health Plan representatives and
the Molina website; and, 4. Integration of cultural competency concepts and nondiscrimination of service delivery
into Provider communications.
Integrated Quality Improvement Ensuring Access
Molina ensures Member access to language services such as oral interpreting, American Sign Language (ASL), written translation and access to programs, and aids and services that are congruent with cultural norms. Molina supports Members with disabilities, and assist Members with Limited English Proficiency.
Molina develops Member materials according to Plain Language Guidelines. Members or Providers may also request written Member materials in alternate languages and formats, leading to better communication, understanding and Member satisfaction. Online materials found on www.MolinaHealthcare.com and information delivered in digital form meet Section 508 accessibility requirements to support Members with visual impairments.
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Key Member information, including Appeals and Grievance forms, are also available in threshold languages on the Molina Member website.
Program and Policy Review Guidelines
Molina conducts assessments at regular intervals of the following information to ensure its programs are most effectively meeting the needs of its Members and Providers: Annual collection and analysis of race, ethnicity and language data:
o Eligible individuals to identify significant culturally and linguistically diverse o Populations with plan's membership. o Revalidate data at least annually. o Provider Services to assess gaps in network demographics. Local geographic population demographics and trends derived from publicly available sources. Applicable national demographics and trends derived from publicly available sources. Network Assessment. Collection of data and reporting for the Diversity of Membership HEDIS measure. Annual determination of threshold languages and processes in place to provide Members with vital information in threshold languages. Identification of specific cultural and linguistic disparities found within the plan's diverse populations. Analysis of HEDIS and CAHPS results for potential cultural and linguistic disparities that prevent Members from obtaining the recommended key chronic and preventive services. Comparison with selected measures such as those in Healthy People 2010.
Measures Available Through National Testing Programs Such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) Linguistic Services
Molina provides oral interpreting of written information to any plan Member who speaks any non-English language regardless of whether that language meets the threshold of a prevalent non-English language. Molina notifies plan Members of the availability of oral interpreting services upon enrollment, and informs them how to access oral interpreting services at no cost to them on all significant Member materials. Molina serves a diverse population of Members with specific cultural needs and preferences. Providers are responsible for supporting access to interpreter services at no cost for Members with sensory impairment and/or who have Limited English Proficiency.
24-Hour Access to Interpreter Services
Providers may request interpreters for Members whose primary language is other than English by calling Molina's Contact Center toll free at (855) 665-4627. If Contact Center Representatives are unable to interpret in the requested language, the Representative will immediately connect you and the Member to a language service Provider. Molina Providers must support Member access to telephonic interpreter services by offering a telephone with speaker
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capability or a telephone with a dual headset. Providers may offer Molina Members interpreter services if the Members do not request them on their own. It is never permissible to ask a family member, friend or minor to interpret.
Documentation
As a contracted Molina Provider, your responsibilities for documenting Member language services/needs in the Member's medical record are as follows: Record the Member's language preference in a prominent location in the medical record. This information is provided to you on the electronic Member lists that are sent to you each
month by Molina. Document all Member requests for interpreter services. Document who provided the interpreter service. This includes the name of Molina's internal
staff or someone from a commercial interpreter service vendor. Information should include the interpreter's name, operator code and vendor. Document all counseling and treatment done using interpreter services. Document if a Member insists on using a family member, friend or minor as an interpreter, or refuses the use of interpreter services after notification of his or her right to have a qualified interpreter at no cost.
Members With Hearing Impairment
Molina provides a TTY/TDD connection, accessible by dialing 711. This connection provides access to Member & Provider Contact Center, Quality, Healthcare Services and all other health plan functions.
Molina strongly recommends that Provider offices make available assistive listening devices for Members who are deaf and hard of hearing. Assistive listening devices enhance the sound of the provider's voice to facilitate a better interaction with the Member.
Molina will provide face-to-face interpreter services for ASL to support our Members who are deaf or hard of hearing. Requests should be made three (3) days in advance of an appointment to ensure availability of the service. Call our Member & Provider Contact Center toll free at (855) 665-4627 to arrange for this service.
Nurse Advice Line
Molina provides twenty-four (24) hours/seven (7) days a week Nurse Advice Services for Members. The Nurse Advice Line provides access to twenty-four (24) hour interpretive services. Members may call Molina's Nurse Advice Line directly (English line [888] 275-8750) or (Spanish line at [866] 648-3537) or for assistance in other languages. The Nurse Advice TTY/TDD is 711. The Nurse Advice Line telephone numbers are also printed on membership cards.
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12. Claims and Compensation
As a contracted Provider, it is important to understand how the Claims process works to avoid delays in processing your Claims. The following items are covered in this section for your reference: Hospital Acquired Conditions and Present on Admission Program Claim Submission Coordination of Benefits (COB)/Third Party Liability (TPL) Timely Claim Filing Claim Edit Process Claim Review Claim Auditing Corrected Claims Timely Claim Processing Electronic Claim Payment Overpayment and Incorrect Payment Billing the Member Fraud and Abuse Encounter Data
Hospital-Acquired Conditions and Present on Admission Program
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) mandated that Medicare establish a program that would modify reimbursement for fee for service beneficiaries when certain conditions occurred as a direct result of a hospital stay that could have been reasonably been prevented by the use of evidencedbased guidelines. CMS titled the program "Hospital-Acquired Conditions and Present on Admission Indicator Reporting" (HAC and POA).
The following is a list of CMS Hospital Acquired Conditions. Effective October 1, 2008, CMS reduces payment for hospitalizations complicated by these categories of conditions that were not present on admission (POA): 1. Foreign Object Retained After Surgery 2. Air Embolism 3. Blood Incompatibility 4. Stage III and IV Pressure Ulcers 5. Falls and Trauma
a. Fractures b. Dislocations c. Intracranial Injuries d. Crushing Injuries e. Burn f. Other Injuries 6. Manifestations of Poor Glycemic Control a. Hypoglycemic Coma
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b. Diabetic Ketoacidosis c. Non-ketotic Hyperosmolar Coma d. Secondary Diabetes with Ketoacidosis e. Secondary Diabetes with Hyperosmolarity 7. Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) 8. Vascular Catheter-Associated Infection 9. Surgical Site Infection Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Mediastinitis 10. Surgical Site Infection Following Certain Orthopedic Procedures: a. Spine b. Neck c. Shoulder d. Elbow 11. Surgical Site Infection Following Bariatric Surgery Procedures for Obesity: a. Laparoscopic Gastric Restrictive Surgery b. Laparoscopic gastric bypass c. Gastroenterostomy 12. Surgical Site Infection Following Placement of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device (CIED) 13. Iatrogenic Pneumothorax with Venous Catheterization 14. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Pulmonary Embolism (PE) Following Certain Orthopedic Procedures a. Total Knee Replacement b. Hip Replacement
What this means to Providers: Acute IPPS Hospital claims will be returned with no payment if the POA indicator is coded
incorrectly or missing; and, No additional payment will be made on IPPS hospital claims for conditions that are acquired
during the patient's hospitalization.
If you would like to find out more information regarding the Medicare HAC/POA program, including billing requirements, the following CMS site provides further information: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HospitalAcqCond/
Claim Submission
Participating Providers are required to submit Claims to Molina with appropriate documentation. Providers must follow the appropriate State and CMS Provider billing guidelines. Providers must utilize electronic billing though a clearinghouse or Molina's Provider Portal, and use current HIPAA compliant ANSI X 12N format (e.g., 837I for institutional Claims, 837P for professional Claims, and 837D for dental Claims) and use electronic Payer ID number: 38333. For Members assigned to a delegated medical group/IPA that processes its own Claims, please verify the Claim Submission instructions on the Member's Molina ID card.
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Claims that do not comply with Molina's electronic Claim submission requirements will be denied.
Providers must bill Molina for services with the most current CMS approved diagnostic and procedural coding available as of the date the service was provided, or for inpatient facility Claims, the date of discharge.
Required Elements
The following information must be included on every claim: Member name, date of birth and Molina Member ID number. Member's gender. Member's address. Date(s) of service. Valid International Classification of Diseases diagnosis and procedure codes. Valid revenue, CPT or HCPCS for services or items provided. Valid Diagnosis Pointers. Total billed charges for service provided. Place and type of service code. Days or units as applicable. Provider tax identification. National Provider Identifier (NPI). Rendering Provider as applicable. Provider name and billing address. Place of service and type (for facilities). Disclosure of any other health benefit plans. E-signature. Service Facility Location.
Inaccurate, incomplete, or untimely submissions and re-submissions may result in denial of the claim; and any paper claim submissions will be denied.
National Provider Identifier (NPI)
A valid NPI is required on all Claim submissions. Providers must report any changes in their NPI or subparts to Molina as soon as possible, not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days from the change.
Electronic Claims Submission
Molina requires Participating Providers to submit Claims electronically. Electronic Claims submission provides significant benefits to the Provider including: Helps to reduce operation costs associated with paper claims (printing, postage, etc.). Increases accuracy of data and efficient information delivery. Reduces Claim delays since errors can be corrected and resubmitted electronically. Eliminates mailing time and Claims reach Molina faster.
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Molina offers the following electronic Claims submission options: Submit Claims directly to Molina via the Provider Portal. Submit Claims to Molina via your regular EDI clearinghouse using Payer ID 38333.
Provider Portal
Molina's Provider Portal offers a number of claims processing functionalities and benefits: Available to all Providers at no cost. Available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week. Ability to add attachments to claims (Portal and clearinghouse submissions). Ability to submit corrected claims. Easily and quickly void claims. Check claims status. Receive timely notification of a change in status for a particular claim.
Clearinghouse
Molina uses Change Healthcare as its gateway clearinghouse. Change Healthcare has relationships with hundreds of other clearinghouses. Typically, Providers can continue to submit Claims to their usual clearinghouse.
Molina accepts EDI transactions through our gateway clearinghouse for Claims via the 837P for Professional and 837I for institutional. In order to ensure that all data bring submitted to our gateway is received properly your submitter must utilize the latest version of the 837 standard. It is important to track your electronic transmissions using your acknowledgement reports. The reports assure Claims are received for processing in a timely manner.
When your Claims are filed via a Clearinghouse: You should receive a 999 acknowledgement from your clearinghouse. You should also receive 277CA response file with initial status of the claims from your
clearinghouse. You should contact your local clearinghouse representative if you experience any problems
with your transmission.
EDI Claims Submission Issues
Providers who are experiencing EDI Submission issues should work with their clearinghouse to resolve this issue. If the Provider's clearinghouse is unable to resolve, the Provider may call the Molina EDI Customer Service line at (866) 409-2935 or email us at EDI.Claims@MolinaHealthcare.com for additional support.
Paper Claim Submissions
Paper claims are not accepted by Molina. Claims submitted via paper will be denied.
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Coordination of Benefits and Third Party Liability (Medicare)
For Members enrolled in a Molina plan, Molina and/or contracted Medical Groups/IPAs are financially responsible for the care provided to these Members. Molina will pay claims for covered services; however if TPL/COB is determined Molina may cost avoid if appropriate or request recovery post payment. Molina will attempt to recover any overpayments paid as the primary payer when another insurance is primary.
Medicaid Coverage for Molina Medicare Members (Medicare)
There are certain benefits that will not be covered by Molina Medicare program but may be covered by fee-for-service Medicaid. In this case, the Provider should bill Medicaid with a copy of the Molina Medicare remittance advice and the associated state agency will process the claim accordingly.
After exhausting all other primary coverage benefits, Providers may submit claims to Molina Medicare. A copy of the remittance advice from the primary payer must accompany the claim or the claim will be denied. If the primary insurance paid more than Molina's contracted allowable rate the claim is considered paid in full and zero dollars will be applied to claim.
Timely Claim Filing
Provider shall promptly submit to Molina Claims for Covered Services rendered to Members. All Claims shall be submitted in a form acceptable to and approved by Molina, and shall include any and all medical records pertaining to the Claim if requested by Molina or otherwise required by Molina's policies and procedures. Medicaid claims for covered services rendered to Molina Members must be filed within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days from the date of service. Medicare claims for covered services rendered to Molina Members must be filed within one (1) calendar year from the date of service. Except as otherwise provided by Law or provided by Government Program requirements, any Claims that are not submitted to Molina within these timelines shall not be eligible for payment and Provider hereby waives any right to payment.
Reimbursement Guidance and Payment Guidelines
Providers are responsible for submission of accurate claims. Molina requires coding of both diagnoses and procedures for all claims. The required coding schemes are the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification ICD-10-CM for diagnoses. For procedures, the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Level 1 (CPT codes), Level 2 and 3 (HCPCS codes) are required for professional and outpatient claims. Inpatient hospital claims require ICD-10-PCS (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System). Furthermore, Molina requires that all claims be coded in accordance with the HIPAA transaction code set guidelines and follow the guidelines within each code set.
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Molina utilizes a claims adjudication system that encompasses edits and audits that follow State and Federal requirements and also administers payment rules based on generally accepted principles of correct coding. Payment rules based on generally accepted principles of correct coding include, but are not limited to, the following: Manuals and RVU files published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
(CMS), including: o National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits, including procedure-to-procedure (PTP)
bundling edits and Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs). In the event a State benefit limit is more stringent/restrictive than a Federal MUE, Molina will apply the State benefit limit. Furthermore, if a professional organization has a more stringent/restrictive standard than a Federal MUE or State benefit limit, the professional organization standard may be used. o In the absence of State guidance, Medicare National Coverage Determinations (NCDs). o In the absence of State guidance, Medicare Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs). o CMS Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File (RVU) indicators. Current Procedural Technology (CPT) guidance published by the American Medical Association (AMA). ICD-10 guidance published by the National Center for Health Statistics. State-specific claims reimbursement guidance. Other coding guidelines published by industry-recognized resources. Payment policies based on professional associations or other industry-recognized guidance for specific services. Such payment policies may be more stringent than State and Federal guidelines. Molina policies based on the appropriateness of health care and medical necessity. Payment policies published by Molina.
Coding Sources
Definitions
CPT Current Procedural Terminology 4th Edition; an American Medical Association (AMA) maintained uniform coding system consisting of descriptive terms and codes that are used primarily to identify medical services and procedures furnished by physicians and other health care professionals. There are three types of CPT codes: Category I Code Procedures/Services Category II Code Performance Measurement Category III Code Emerging Technology
HCPCS HealthCare Common Procedural Coding System; a CMS maintained uniform coding system consisting of descriptive terms and codes that are used primarily to identify procedure, supply and durable medical equipment codes furnished by physicians and other health care professionals.
ICD-10-CM International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, Clinical Modification ICD10-CM diagnosis codes are maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for
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Disease Control (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
ICD-10-PCS - International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, Procedure Coding System used to report procedures for inpatient hospital services.
Claim Auditing
Provider acknowledges Molina's right to conduct post-payment billing audits. Provider shall cooperate with Molina's audits of Claims and payments by providing access at reasonable times to requested Claims information, all supporting medical records, Provider's charging policies, and other related data. Molina shall use established industry Claims adjudication and/or clinical practices, State, and Federal guidelines, and/or Molina's policies and data to determine the appropriateness of the billing, coding, and payment.
Corrected Claims
Corrected Claims are considered new Claims for processing purposes. Corrected Claims must be submitted electronically with the appropriate fields on the 837I or 837P completed. Molina's Provider Portal includes functionality to submit corrected Institutional and Professional claims. Corrected claims must include the correct coding to denote if the claim is Replacement of Prior Claim or Corrected Claim for an 837I or the correct Resubmission Code for an 837P. Claims submitted without the correct coding will be returned to the Provider for resubmission.
EDI (Clearinghouse) Submission
837P
In the 2300 Loop, the CLM segment (claim information) CLM05-3 (claim frequency type code) must indicate one of the following qualifier codes: o "1"-ORIGINAL (initial claim) o "7"REPLACEMENT (replacement of prior claim) o "8"-VOID (void/cancel of prior claim)
In the 2300 Loop, the REF *F8 segment (claim information) must include the original reference number (Internal Control Number/Document Control Number ICN/DCN).
837I
Bill type for UB claims are billed in loop 2300/CLM05-1. In Bill Type for UB, the "1" "7" or "8" goes in the third digit for "frequency".
In the 2300 Loop, the REF *F8 segment (claim information) must include the original reference number (Internal Control Number/Document Control Number ICN/DCN).
Timely Claim Processing (Medicare)
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A complete claim is a claim that has no defect, impropriety, lack of any required substantiating documentation as outlined in "Required Elements" above, or particular circumstance requiring special treatment that prevents timely payment from being made on the claim.
Claims processing will be completed for contracted Providers in accordance with the timeliness provisions set forth in the Provider's contract. Unless the Provider and Molina or contracted medical group/IPA have agreed in writing to an alternate schedule, Molina will process the claim for service as follows: Ninety-five percent (95%) of the monthly volume of non-contracted "clean" claims are to be
adjudicated within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the monthly volume of contracted claims are to be adjudicated
within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the monthly volume of non-clean non-contracted claims shall
be paid or denied within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt.
The receipt date of a Claim is the date Molina receives notice of the Claim.
Electronic Claim Payment
Participating Providers are required to enroll for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA). Providers who enroll in EFT payments will automatically receive ERAs as well. EFT/ERA services allow Providers to reduce paperwork, provides searchable ERAs, and Providers receive payment and ERA access faster than the paper check and RA processes. There is no cost to the Provider for EFT enrollment, and Providers are not required to be in-network to enroll. Molina uses a vendor to facilitate the HIPAA compliant EFT payment and ERA delivery. Additional information about EFT/ERA is available at www.MolinaHealthcare.com or by contacting our Provider Services Department.
Overpayments and Incorrect Payments Refund Requests
If, as a result of retroactive review of coverage decisions or payment levels, Molina determines that it has made an Overpayment to a Provider for services rendered to a Member, it will make a claim for such Overpayment.
A Provider shall pay a Claim for an Overpayment made by Molina which the Provider does not contest or dispute within the specified number of days on the refund request letter mailed to the Provider.
If a provider does not repay or dispute the overpaid amount within the timeframe allowed Molina may offset the overpayment amount(s) against future payments made to the provider.
Payment of a Claim for Overpayment is considered made on the date payment was received or electronically transferred or otherwise delivered to Molina, or the date that the Provider receives a payment from Molina that reduces or deducts the Overpayment.
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Provider Claim Redeterminations Contracted Providers
Providers seeking a redetermination of a claim previously adjudicated must request such action, in writing, utilizing Molina's Provider Research and Resolution process within one-hundredtwenty (120) days of Molina's original remittance advice date. Additionally, the item(s) being resubmitted should be clearly marked as a redetermination and must include the following: Requests must be fully explained as to the reason for redetermination. Previous claim and remittance advice, any other documentation to support the request and a
copy of the referral/authorization form (if applicable) must accompany the request. Requests for claim redetermination should be sent via email to:
MedicareSpecialProjects@MolinaHealthcare.com.
Note: Corrected claims are to be directed through the original claims submission process, clearly identified as a corrected claim.
All questions pertaining to claim redetermination requests are to be directed to the Member & Provider Contact Center toll free at (855) 322-4075.
Provider Reconsideration of Delegated Claims Contracted Providers (Medicare Only)
Providers requesting a reconsideration, correction or reprocessing of a claim previously adjudicated by an entity that is delegated for claims payment must submit their request to the delegated entity responsible for payment of the original claim.
Billing the Member
Providers contracted with Molina cannot bill the Member for any covered benefits. The Provider is responsible for verifying eligibility and obtaining approval for those services that require prior authorization.
Providers agree that under no circumstance shall a Member be liable to the Provider for any sums owed by Molina to the Provider
Provider agrees to accept payment from Molina as payment in full, or bill the appropriate responsible party
Provider may not bill a Molina Member for any unpaid portion of the bill or for a claim that is not paid with the following exceptions: o The Member has been advised by the Provider that the service is not a covered benefit and the Provider has documentation. o The Member has been advised by the Provider that he/she is not contracted with Molina and has documentation. o The Member agrees in writing to have the service provided with full knowledge that they are financially responsible for payment.
Fraud and Abuse
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Failure to report instances of suspected Fraud and Abuse is a violation of the Law and subject to the penalties provided by Law. Please refer to the Compliance section of this Provider Manual for more information.
Encounter Data
Each capitated Provider/organization delegated for Claims processing is required to submit Encounter data to Molina for all adjudicated Claims. The data is used for many purposes, such as regulatory reporting, rate setting and risk adjustment, hospital rate setting, the Quality Improvement program and HEDIS® reporting.
Encounter data must be submitted at least once per month, and within forty-five (45) days of the end of the month in which care was rendered, in order to meet State and CMS encounter submission threshold and quality measures. Encounter data must be submitted via HIPAA compliant transactions, including the ANSI X12N 837I Institutional, 837P Professional, and 837D -- Dental. Data must be submitted with Claims level detail for all non-institutional services provided. For institutional services, only those services covered by Molina should be reported.
Molina shall have a comprehensive automated and integrated Encounter data system capable of meeting these requirements.
Providers must correct and resubmit any encounters which are rejected (non-HIPAA compliant) or denied by Molina. Encounters must be corrected and resubmitted within fifteen (15) days from the rejection/denial.
Molina will create Molina's 837P, 837I, and 837D Companion Guides with the specific submission requirements available to Providers.
When your Encounters are filed electronically you should receive: For any direct submission to Molina you should receive a 999 acknowledgement of your
transmission. For Encounter submission you will also receive a 277CA response file for each Transaction.
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13. Compliance
Fraud, Waste and Abuse Program
Introduction
Molina is dedicated to the detection, prevention, investigation, and reporting of potential health care fraud, waste, and abuse. As such, Molina's Compliance department maintains a comprehensive plan, which addresses how Molina will uphold and follow State and Federal statutes and regulations pertaining to fraud, waste, and abuse. Molina's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) supports Compliance in its efforts to deter and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse by conducting investigations to identify and report findings to the appropriate regulatory and/or law enforcement agencies.
Mission
Molina regards health care fraud, waste, and abuse as unacceptable, unlawful, and harmful to the provision of quality health care in an efficient and affordable manner. Molina has therefore implemented a plan to detect, prevent, investigate, and report suspected health care fraud, waste, and abuse in order to reduce health care cost and to promote quality health care.
Regulatory Requirements
Federal False Claims Act
The False Claims Act is a Federal statute that covers fraud involving any Federally-funded contract or program, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The act establishes liability for any person who knowingly presents or causes to be presented a false or fraudulent claim to the U.S. Government for payment.
The term "knowing" is defined to mean that a person with respect to information: Has actual knowledge of falsity of information in the claim; Acts in deliberate ignorance of the truth or falsity of the information in a claim; or, Acts in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the information in a claim.
The act does not require proof of a specific intent to defraud the U.S. government. Instead, health care Providers can be prosecuted for a wide variety of conduct that leads to the submission of fraudulent claims to the government, such as knowingly making false statements, falsifying records, double-billing for items or services, submitting bills for services never performed or items never furnished or otherwise causing a false claim to be submitted.
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Deficit Reduction Act
On February 8, 2006, the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) was signed into Law, which became effective on January 1, 2007. The DRA aims to cut fraud, waste and abuse from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Health care entities like Molina who receive or pay out at least five (5) million dollars in Medicaid funds per year must comply with the DRA. As a contractor doing business with Molina, Providers and their staff have the same obligation to report any actual or suspected violation of Medicare/Medicaid funds either by fraud, waste or abuse. Entities must have written policies that inform employees, contractors, and agents of the following: The Federal False Claims Act and State Laws pertaining to submitting false claims; How Providers will detect and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse; and, Employee protection rights as whistleblowers.
The Federal False Claims Act and State Medicaid False Claims Acts have Qui Tam language commonly referred to as "whistleblower" provisions. These provisions encourage employees (current or former) and others to report instances of fraud, waste or abuse to the government. The government may then proceed to file a lawsuit against the organization/individual accused of violating the False Claims acts. The whistleblower may also file a lawsuit independently. Cases found in favor of the government will result in the whistleblower receiving a portion of the amount awarded to the government.
Whistleblower protections state that employees who have been discharged, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed or otherwise discriminated against due to their role in disclosing or reporting a false claim are entitled to all relief necessary to make the employee whole including: Employment reinstatement at the same level of seniority; Two (2) times the amount of back pay plus interest; and, Compensation for special damages incurred by the employee as a result of the employer's
inappropriate actions.
Affected entities who fail to comply with the Law will be at risk of forfeiting all payments until compliance is met. Molina will take steps to monitor Molina contracted Providers to ensure compliance with the Law.
Anti-Kickback Statute Provides criminal penalties for individuals or entities that knowingly and willfully offer, pay, solicit, or receive remuneration in order to induce or reward business payable or reimbursable under the Medicare or other Federal health care programs.
Stark Statute Similar to the Anti-Kickback Statute, but more narrowly defined and applied. It applies specifically to Medicare and Medicaid services provided only by physicians, rather than by all health care Providers.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Requires certification of financial statements by both the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. The Act states that a corporation must assess
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the effectiveness of its internal controls and report this assessment annually to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Definitions
Fraud: Means an intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge that the deception could result in some unauthorized benefit to himself or some other person. It includes any act that constitutes fraud under applicable Federal or State Law. (42 CFR § 455.2)
Waste: Health care spending that can be eliminated without reducing the quality of care. Quality waste includes overuse, underuse, and ineffective use. Inefficiency waste includes redundancy, delays, and unnecessary process complexity. An example would be the attempt to obtain reimbursement for items or services where there was no intent to deceive or misrepresent, however the outcome resulted in poor or inefficient billing methods (e.g., coding) causing unnecessary costs to the Medicare program.
Abuse: Means Provider practices that are inconsistent with sound fiscal, business, or medical practices, and result in unnecessary costs to the Medicare program, or in reimbursement for services that are not medically necessary or that fail to meet professionally recognized standards for health care. It also includes recipient practices that result in unnecessary cost to the Medicare programs. (42 CFR § 455.2)
Examples of Fraud, Waste and Abuse by a Provider
The types of questionable Provider schemes investigated by Molina include, but are not limited to the following: A physician knowingly and willfully referring a Member to health care facilities in which or
with which the physician has a financial relationship. (Stark Law) Altering claim forms, electronic claim forms, and/or medical record documentation in order
to get a higher level of reimbursement. Balance billing a Member for covered services. This includes asking the Member to pay the
difference between the discounted and negotiated fees, and the Provider's usual and customary fees. Billing and providing for services to Members that are not medically necessary. Billing for services, procedures and/or supplies that have not been rendered. Billing under an invalid place of service in order to receive or maximize reimbursement. Completing certificates of Medical Necessity for Members not personally and professionally known by the Provider. Concealing a Member's misuse of a Molina identification card. Failing to report a Member's forgery or alteration of a prescription or other medical document. False coding in order to receive or maximize reimbursement. Inappropriate billing of modifiers in order to receive or maximize reimbursement.
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Inappropriately billing of a procedure that does not match the diagnosis in order to receive or maximize reimbursement.
Knowingly and willfully soliciting or receiving payment of kickbacks or bribes in exchange for referring patients.
Not following incident to billing guidelines in order to receive or maximize reimbursement. Overutilization. Participating in schemes that involve collusion between a Provider and a Member that result
in higher costs or charges. Questionable prescribing practices. Unbundling services in order to get more reimbursement, which involves separating a
procedure into parts and charging for each part rather than using a single global code. Underutilization, which means failing to provide services that are medically necessary. Upcoding, which is when a Provider does not bill the correct code for the service rendered,
and instead uses a code for a like services that costs more. Using the adjustment payment process to generate fraudulent payments.
Examples of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse by a Member
The types of questionable Member schemes investigated by Molina include, but are not limited to, the following: Benefit sharing with persons not entitled to the Member's Medicare and/or Medicaid
benefits. Conspiracy to defraud Medicare and/or Medicaid.
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Doctor shopping, which occurs when a Member consults a number of Providers for the purpose of inappropriately obtaining services.
Falsifying documentation in order to get services approved. Forgery related to health care. Prescription diversion, which occurs when a Member obtains a prescription from a Provider
for a condition that he/she does not suffer from and the Member sells the medication to someone else.
Review of Provider Claims and Claims System
Molina Claims Examiners are trained to recognize unusual billing practices and to detect fraud, waste and abuse. If the Claims Examiner suspects fraudulent, abusive or wasteful billing practices, the billing practice is documented and reported to the Compliance Department.
The Claims payment system utilizes system edits and flags to validate those elements of Claims are billed in accordance with standardized billing practices; ensure that Claims are processed accurately and ensure that payments reflect the service performed as authorized.
Molina performs auditing to ensure the accuracy of data input into the Claims system. The Claims department conducts regular audits to identify system issues or errors. If errors are identified, they are corrected and a thorough review of system edits is conducted to detect and locate the source of the errors.
Prepayment Fraud, Waste and Abuse Detection Activities
Through implementation of claims edits, Molina's claims payment system is designed to audit claims concurrently, in order to detect and prevent paying claims that are inappropriate.
Post-payment Recovery Activities
The terms expressed in this section of this Provider Manual are incorporated into the Provider Agreement, and are intended to supplement, rather than diminish, any and all other rights and remedies that may be available to Molina under the Provider Agreement or at Law or equity. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms expressed here and any terms expressed in the Provider Agreement, the parties agree that Molina shall in its sole discretion exercise the terms that are expressed in the Provider Agreement, the terms that are expressed here, its rights under Law and equity, or some combination thereof.
Provider will provide Molina, governmental agencies and their representatives or agents, access to examine, audit, and copy any and all records deemed by Molina, in Molina's sole discretion, necessary to determine compliance with the terms of the Provider Agreement, including for the purpose of investigating potential fraud, waste and abuse. Documents and records must be readily accessible at the location where Provider provides services to any Molina Members. Auditable documents and records include, but are not limited to, medical charts; patient charts; billing records; and coordination of benefits information. Production of auditable documents and
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records must be provided in a timely manner, as requested by Molina and without charge to Molina. In the event Molina identifies fraud, waste or abuse, Provider agrees to repay funds or Molina may seek recoupment.
If a Molina auditor is denied access to Provider's records, all of the claims for which Provider received payment from Molina is immediately due and owing. If Provider fails to provide all requested documentation for any claim, the entire amount of the paid claim is immediately due and owing. Molina may offset such amounts against any amounts owed by Molina to Provider. Provider must comply with all requests for documentation and records timely (as reasonably requested by Molina) and without charge to Molina. Claims for which Provider fails to furnish supporting documentation during the audit process are not reimbursable and are subject to chargeback.
Provider acknowledges that HIPAA specifically permits a covered entity, such as Provider, to disclose protected health information for its own payment purposes (see 45 CFR 164.502 and 45 CFR 154.501). Provider further acknowledges that in order to receive payment from Molina, Provider is required to allow Molina to conduct audits of its pertinent records to verify the services performed and the payment claimed, and that such audits are permitted as a payment activity of Provider under HIPAA and other applicable privacy Laws.
Review of Provider
The Credentialing Department is responsible for monitoring Providers through the various Government reports, including: Federal and State sanction reports. Federal and State lists of excluded individuals and entities including the State of California
suspension/exclusion list. List of parties excluded from Federal Procurement and Non-procurement Programs. Medicare suspended and ineligible Provider list. Monthly review of State Medical Board sanctions list. Review of license reports from the appropriate specialty board.
If a match is found, the Credentialing Services staff will request copies of relevant information from the appropriate Government entity. Upon receiving this information the documents are presented to the Credentialing Committee for review and potential action. The Credentialing staff will also present the list of physicians found on the sanctions report to the Compliance Committee for review and potential oversight of action.
Provider Education
When Molina identifies through an audit or other means a situation with a Provider (e.g., coding, billing) that is either inappropriate or deficient, Molina may determine that a Provider education visit is appropriate.
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Molina will notify the Provider of the deficiency and will take steps to educate the Provider, which may include the Provider submitting a corrective action plan to Molina addressing the issues identified and how it will cure these issues moving forward.
Reporting Fraud, Waste and Abuse
If you suspect cases of fraud, waste, or abuse, you must report it by contacting the Molina AlertLine. AlertLine is an external telephone and web based reporting system hosted by NAVEX Global, a leading Provider of compliance and ethics hotline services. AlertLine telephone and web based reporting is available twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, threehundred-sixty-five (365) days a year. When you make a report, you can choose to remain confidential or anonymous. If you choose to call AlertLine, a trained professional at NAVEX Global will note your concerns and provide them to the Molina Compliance Department for follow-up. If you elect to use the web-based reporting process, you will be asked a series of questions concluding with the submission of your report. Reports to AlertLine can be made from anywhere within the United States with telephone or internet access.
Molina AlertLine can be reached toll free at (866) 606-3889 or you may use the service's website to make a report at any time at https://MolinaHealthcare.alertline.com.
You may also report cases of fraud, waste or abuse to Molina's Compliance Department. You have the right to have your concerns reported anonymously without fear of retaliation.
Molina Healthcare of California Attn: Compliance 200 Oceangate, Suite 100 Long Beach, CA 90802
Remember to include the following information when reporting: Nature of complaint. The names of individuals and/or entity involved in suspected fraud and/or abuse including
address, phone number, Molina Member ID number and any other identifying information.
Suspected fraud and abuse may also be reported directly to:
HIPAA Requirements and Information
HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
Molina's Commitment to Patient Privacy
Confidential Reporting of Suspected Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
Molina utilizes several mechanisms to encourage anonymous, confidential and private, good faith reporting of instances of suspected fraud, waste, and abuse. Molina maintains confidential
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reporting mechanisms that Molina employees, members, and providers can use to report suspected fraud, waste, and abuse. The Molina Healthcare AlertLine is available 24/7 and can be reached at any time (day or night), over the weekend, or even on holidays. To report an issue by telephone, call toll-free at (866) 606-3889. To report an issue online, visit https://molinahealthcare.AlertLine.com. In addition to the Molina Healthcare AlertLine, employees may still report issues of concern directly to their supervisor, any Compliance official, or the Legal department.
Protecting the privacy of Members' personal health information is a core responsibility that Molina takes very seriously. Molina is committed to complying with all Federal and State Laws regarding the privacy and security of Members' Protected Health Information (PHI).
Provider Responsibilities
Molina expects that its contracted Providers will respect the privacy of Molina Members (including Molina Members who are not patients of the Provider) and comply with all applicable Laws and regulations regarding the privacy of patient and Member PHI. Molina provides its Members with a privacy notice upon their enrollment in our health plan. The privacy notice explains how Molina uses and discloses their PHI and includes a summary of how Molina safeguards their PHI. A sample of Molina's privacy notice is enclosed at the end of this section.
Applicable Laws
Providers must understand all State and Federal health care privacy Laws applicable to their practice and organization. Currently, there is no comprehensive regulatory framework that protects all health information in the United States; instead there is a patchwork of Laws that Providers must comply with. In general, most health care Providers are subject to various Laws and regulations pertaining to privacy of health information including, without limitation, the following: 1. Federal Laws and Regulations
HIPAA The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
(HITECH) Medicare and Medicaid Laws The Affordable Care Act 2. State Medical Privacy Laws and Regulations Providers should be aware that HIPAA provides a floor for patient privacy but that State Laws should be followed in certain situations, especially if the event State Law is more stringent than HIPAA. Providers should consult with their own legal counsel to address their specific situation.
Uses and Disclosures of PHI
Member and patient PHI should only be used or disclosed as permitted or required by applicable Law. Under HIPAA, a Provider may use and disclose PHI for their own treatment, payment, and health care operations activities (TPO) without the consent or authorization of the patient who is
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the subject of the PHI. Uses and disclosures for TPO apply not only to the Provider's own TPO activities, but also for the TPO of another covered entity1. Disclosure of PHI by one covered entity to another covered entity, or health care Provider, for the recipient's TPO is specifically permitted under HIPAA in the following situations: 1. A covered entity may disclose PHI to another covered entity or a health care Provider for
the payment activities of the recipient. Please note that "payment" is a defined term under the HIPAA Privacy Rule that includes, without limitation, utilization review activities, such as preauthorization of services, concurrent review, and retrospective review of "services2." 2. A covered entity may disclose PHI to another covered entity for the health care operations activities of the covered entity that receives the PHI, if each covered entity either has or had a relationship with the individual who is the subject of the PHI being requested, the PHI pertains to such relationship, and the disclosure is for the following health care operations activities: Quality improvement; Disease management; Case management and care coordination; Training Programs; and, Accreditation, licensing, and credentialing.
Importantly, this allows Providers to share PHI with Molina for our health care operations activities, such as HEDIS® and quality improvement.
Inadvertent Disclosures of PHI
Molina may, on occasion, inadvertently misdirect or disclose PHI pertaining to Molina Member(s) who are not the patients of the Provider. In such cases, the Provider shall return or securely destroy the PHI of the affected Molina Members in order to protect their privacy. The Provider agrees to not further use or disclose such PHI, unless otherwise permitted by Law.
Written Authorizations
Uses and disclosures of PHI that are not permitted or required under applicable Law require the valid written authorization of the patient. Authorizations should meet the requirements of HIPAA and applicable State Law. A sample Authorization for the Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information is included at the end of this section.
Patient Rights
Patients are afforded various rights under HIPAA. Molina Providers must allow patients to exercise any of the below-listed rights that apply to the Provider's practice:
1 See, Sections 164.506(c) (2) & (3) of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. 2 See the definition of Payment, Section 164.501 of the HIPAA Privacy Rule
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1. Notice of Privacy Practices
Providers that are covered under HIPAA and that have a direct treatment relationship with the patient should provide patients with a notice of privacy practices that explains the patient's privacy rights and the process the patient should follow to exercise those rights. The Provider should obtain a written acknowledgment that the patient received the notice of privacy practices.
2. Requests for Restrictions on Uses and Disclosures of PHI
Patients may request that a health care Provider restrict its uses and disclosures of PHI. The Provider is not required to agree to any such request for restrictions.
3. Requests for Confidential Communications
Patients may request that a health care Provider communicate PHI by alternative means or at alternative locations. Providers must accommodate reasonable requests by the patient.
4. Requests for Patient Access to PHI
Patients have a right to access their own PHI within a Provider's designated record set. Personal representatives of patients have the right to access the PHI of the subject patient. The designated record set of a Provider includes the patient's medical record, as well as billing and other records used to make decisions about the Member's care or payment for care.
5. Request to Amend PHI
Patients have a right to request that the Provider amend information in their designated record set.
6. Request Accounting of PHI Disclosures
Patients may request an accounting of disclosures of PHI made by the Provider during the preceding six (6) year period. The list of disclosures does not need to include disclosures made for treatment, payment, or health care operations or made prior to April 14, 2003.
HIPAA Security
Providers must implement and maintain reasonable and appropriate safeguards to protect the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of Molina Member and patient PHI. As more Providers implement electronic health records, Providers need to ensure that they have implemented and maintain appropriate cyber security measures. Providers should recognize that identity theft both financial and medical is a rapidly growing problem and that their patients trust their health care Providers to keep their most sensitive information private and confidential.
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Medical identity theft is an emerging threat in the health care industry. Medical identity theft occurs when someone uses a person's name and sometimes other parts of their identity such as health insurance information without the person's knowledge or consent to obtain health care services or goods. Medical identity theft frequently results in erroneous entries being put into existing medical records. Providers should be aware of this growing problem and report any suspected fraud to Molina.
HIPAA Transactions and Code Sets
Molina requires the use of electronic transactions to streamline health care administrative activities. Molina Providers must submit claims and other transactions to Molina using electronic formats. Certain electronic transactions in health care are subject to HIPAA's Transactions and Code Sets Rule including, but not limited to, the following: Claims and encounters. Member eligibility status inquiries and responses. Claims status inquiries and responses. Authorization requests and responses. Remittance advices.
Molina is committed to complying with all HIPAA Transaction and Code Sets standard requirements. Providers who wish to conduct HIPAA standard transactions with Molina should refer to Molina's website at www.MolinaHealthcare.com for additional information. Click on the area titled "I'm a Health Care Professional," click the tab titled "HIPAA" and then click on the tab titled "HIPAA Transaction Readiness" or "HIPAA Code Sets."
Code Sets
HIPAA regulations require that only approved code sets may be used in standard electronic transactions. For claims with dates of service prior to October 1, 2015, ICD-9 coding must be used. For claims with dates of service on or after October 1, 2015, providers must use the ICD10 code sets.
National Provider Identifier
Providers must comply with the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Rule promulgated under HIPAA. The Provider must obtain an NPI from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) for itself or for any subparts of the Provider. The Provider must report its NPI and any subparts to Molina and to any other entity that requires it. Any changes in its NPI or subparts information must be reported to NPPES within thirty (30) days and should also be reported to Molina within thirty (30) days of the change. Providers must use their NPI to identify it on all electronic transactions required under HIPAA and on all claims and encounters submitted to Molina.
Additional Requirements for Delegated Providers
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Providers that are delegated for claims and utilization management activities are the "business associates" of Molina. Under HIPAA, Molina must obtain contractual assurances from all business associates that they will safeguard Member PHI. Delegated Providers must agree to various contractual provisions required under HIPAA's Privacy and Security Rules.
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14. Credentialing and Recredentialing
The purpose of the Credentialing Program is to assure the Molina Healthcare and its subsidiaries (Molina) networks consists of quality Providers who meet clearly defined criteria and standards. It is the objective of Molina to provide superior health care to the community.
The decision to accept or deny a credentialing applicant is based upon primary source verification, secondary source verification and additional information as required. The information gathered is confidential and disclosure is limited to parties who are legally permitted to have access to the information under State and Federal Law.
The Credentialing Program has been developed in accordance with State and Federal requirements and the standards of the National Committee of Quality Assurance © (NCQA). The Credentialing Program is reviewed annually, revised, and updated as needed.
Definitions
Rental/Leased Network a network of Providers that leases its panel to another network or insurer with an emphasis on expanding Provider access and negotiating discounted fee-forservice fees. This type of network is sometimes referred to as a brokerage-leased network or thought of as "wholesale," since Members' access to the network is through an intermediary.
Primary Care Provider (PCP) a Provider who has the responsibility for supervising, coordinating, and providing primary health care to Members, initiating referrals for specialist care, and maintaining the continuity of Member care. PCPs include, but are not limited to Pediatricians, Family Providers, General Providers or Internists, as designated by Molina.
General Practitioner Physicians who are not Board Certified and have not completed a training program from an accredited training program in their requested specialty.
Urgent Care Provider (UCP) a Provider who is not a PCP and only provides urgent care services to Members. Urgent care services are medically necessary services, which are required for an illness or injury that would not result in further disability or death if not treated immediately, but require professional attention and have the potential to develop such a threat if treatment is delayed longer than 24 hours. A UCP may include PA, NP, MD and DO. The UCP is usually trained in general practice, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, or emergency medicine. Some UCPs may also have specialty training.
Primary Source verification the process by which Molina verifies credentialing information directly from the entity that originally conferred or issued the credential to the Provider.
Locum Tenens a substitute physician used to fill in for a regular physician for reasons such as illness, pregnancy, vacation, or continuing medical education. The regular physician bills and receives payment for the substitute physician as though he/she performed them. The substitute
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physician generally has no practice of his/her own and moves from area to area as needed. The regular physician generally pays the substitute physician a fixed amount per diem, with the substitute physician having the status of an independent contractor rather than of an employee.
Physician is a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
Unprofessional conduct refers to a basis for corrective action or termination involving an aspect of a Provider's competence or professional conduct, which is reasonably likely to be detrimental to Patient safety or the delivery of quality care. Unprofessional conduct does not refer to instances where a Provider violates a material term of the Provider's contract with a Molina plan.
Criteria for Participation in the Molina Network
Molina has established criteria and the sources used to verify these criteria for the evaluation and selection of Providers for participation in the Molina network. This policy defines the criteria that are applied to applicants for initial participation, recredentialing and ongoing participation in the Molina network. To remain eligible for participation Providers must continue to satisfy all applicable requirements for participation as stated herein and in all other documentations provided by Molina. These criteria and the sources used to verify these criteria are listed in the table below.
Molina reserves the right to exercise discretion in applying any criteria and to exclude Providers who do not meet the criteria. Molina may, after considering the recommendations of the Credentialing Committee, waive any of the requirements for network participation established pursuant to these policies for good cause if it is determined such waiver is necessary to meet the needs of Molina and the community it serves. The refusal of Molina to waive any requirement shall not entitle any Provider to a hearing or any other rights of review.
Providers must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate in the Molina network. If the Provider fails to meet/provide proof of meeting these criteria, the credentialing application will be deemed incomplete and it will result in an administrative denial or termination from the Molina network. Providers who fail to provide proof of meeting these criteria do not have the right to submit an appeal.
CRITERIA
Application Provider must submit to Molina a complete, signed and dated credentialing application.
The application must be typewritten or completed in non-erasable ink. Application
VERIFICATION SOURCE
Every section of the application is complete or designated N/A
Every question is answered
The attestation must be signed and dated within one-hundred-eighty (180) calendar days of
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
All Provider types
TIME LIMIT
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial & Recredentialing
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CRITERIA
must include all required attachments.
The Provider must sign and date the application attesting their application is complete and correct within onehundred-eighty (180) calendar days of the credentialing decision. If the Provider's attestation exceeds one-hundred-eighty (180) days before the credentialing decision, the Provider must attest that the information on the application remains correct and complete, but does not need to complete another application. It is preferred to send a copy of the completed application with the new attestation form when requesting the Provider to update the attestation.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
credentialing decision All required
attachments are present Every professional
question is clearly answered and the page is completely legible A detailed written response is included for every yes answer on the professional questions
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
TIME LIMIT
WHEN REQUIRED
If Molina or the Credentialing Committee requests any additional information or clarification, the Provider must supply that information in the period requested.
Any changes made to the application must be initialed and dated by the Provider. Whiteout may not be used on the application rather the incorrect information must have a line drawn through it with the correct information written/typed and must be initiated and dated by the Provider.
If a copy of an application from an entity external to Molina is used, it must include an attestation to the correctness and completeness
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of the application. Molina does not consider the associated attestation elements as present if the Provider did not attest to the application within the required period of onehundred-eighty (180) days. If State regulations require Molina to use a credentialing application that does not contain an attestation, Molina must attach an addendum to the application for attestation.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
APPLICABLE TIME LIMIT PROVIDER TYPE
WHEN REQUIRED
The application and/or attestation documents cannot be altered or modified. License, Certification or Registration Provider must hold an active, current valid license, certification or registration to practice in their specialty in every State in which they will provide care and/or render services for Molina Members.
If a Provider has ever had his or her professional license/certification/registrati on in any State suspended or revoked or Provider has ever surrendered, voluntarily or involuntarily, his or her professional license/certification/registrati on in any State while under or to avoid investigation by the State or due to findings by the State resulting from the Provider's acts, omissions or conduct, Molina will verify all licenses, certifications and registrations in every State where the Provider has practiced. DEA or CDS certificate Provider must hold a current, valid, unrestricted Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
Verified directly with the appropriate State licensing or certification agency. This verification is conducted by one of the following methods: On-line directly with
licensing board Confirmation directly
from the appropriate State agency.
The verification must indicate: The scope/type of
license The date of original
licensure Expiration date Status of license If there have been, or
currently are, any disciplinary action or sanctions on the license.
DEA or CDS is verified by one of the following: On-line directly with
the National Technical
All Provider types who are required to hold a license, certification or registration to practice in their State
Physicians, Oral Surgeons, Nurse Providers,
Must be in effect at the time of decision and verified within One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
Must be in effect at the time of
Initial & Recredentialing
Initial & Recredentialing
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or Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) certificate. Provider must have a DEA or CDS in every State where the Provider provides care to Molina Members.
If a Provider has a pending DEA/CDS certificate because of just starting practice or because of moving to a new State, the Provider may be credentialed on "watch" status provided that Molina has a written prescription plan from the Provider. This plan must describe the process for allowing another Provider with a valid DEA/CDS certificate to write all prescriptions requiring a DEA/CDS number.
If a Provider has never had any disciplinary action taken related to his/her DEA or CDS and chooses not to have a DEA or CDS certificate, the Provider may be considered for network participation if they submit a prescription plan for another Provider with a valid DEA or CDS certificate to write all prescriptions.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
Information Service (NTIS) database. On-line directly with the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control Current, legible copy of DEA or CDS certificate On-line directly with the State pharmaceutical licensing agency, where applicable
Written prescription plans: A written prescription
plan must be received from the Provider. It must indicate another Provider with a valid DEA or CDS certificate to write all prescriptions requiring a DEA number. Molina must primary source verify the covering Providers DEA.
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
Physician Assistants, Podiatrists
TIME LIMIT
decision and verified within one-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED
If a Provider does not have a DEA because it has been revoked, restricted or relinquished due to disciplinary reasons, the Provider is not eligible to participate in the Molina network.
Education & Training Providers will only be credentialed in an area of practice in which they have adequate education and training as outlined below. Therefore, Providers must
As outlined below under Education, Residency, Fellowship and Board Certification.
All Provider Types
Prior to credentialing decision
Initial & Recredentialing
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confine their practice to their credentialed area of practice when providing services to Molina Members. Education Provider must have graduated from an accredited school with a degree required to practice in their specialty.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
The highest level of education is primary source verified by one of the following methods: Primary source
verification of Board Certification as outlined in the Board Certification section of this policy. Confirmation from the State licensing agency when Molina has documentation that the State agency conducts primary source verification of the highest level of education and this confirmation is not greater than 12-months old. The American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Master File. This verification must indicate the education has specifically been verified. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Official Osteopathic Physician Profile Report or AOA Physician Master File. This verification must indicate the education has specifically been verified. Confirmation directly from the accredited school. This verification must include the type of education, the date started, date completed
APPLICABLE TIME LIMIT PROVIDER TYPE
WHEN REQUIRED
All Provider types
Prior to credentialing decision
Initial Credentialing
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Residency Training Provider must have satisfactorily completed a residency program from an accredited training program in the specialty in which they are practicing. Verification of the residency is always
VERIFICATION SOURCE
and if the Provider graduated from the program. Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) for international medical graduates licensed after 1986. Association of schools of the health professionals, if the association performs primary-source verification of graduation from medical school and Molina has written confirmation from the association that it performs primary source verification of graduation and this confirmation is not greater than twelve (12) months old. If a physician has completed education and training through the AMA's Fifth Pathway program, this must be verified through the AMA. Confirmation directly from the National Student Clearing House. This verification must include the name of the accredited school, type of education and dates of attendance. Residency Training is primary source verified by one of the following methods: Primary source verification of current or expired board certification in the
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
Oral Surgeons, Physicians, Podiatrists
TIME LIMIT
Prior to credentialing decision
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial Credentialing
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required except for General Providers as described in the General Provider section below.
Molina only recognizes residency programs that have been accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in the United States or by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Oral Surgeons must have completed a training program in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
Training must be successfully completed prior to completing the verification. It is not acceptable to verify completion prior to graduation from the program.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
same specialty of the Residency Training program (as outlined in the Board Certification section of this policy). The American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Master File. This verification must indicate the training has specifically been verified. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Official Osteopathic Physician Profile Report or AOA Physician Master File. This verification must indicate the training has specifically been verified. Confirmation directly from the accredited training program. This verification must include the type of training program, specialty of training, the date started, date completed and if the program was successfully completed. Association of schools of the health professionals, if the association performs primary-source verification of residency training and Molina has written confirmation from the association that it performs primary source verification of graduation and this confirmation is not greater than twelve (12) months old. For Closed Residency
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
TIME LIMIT
WHEN REQUIRED
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Fellowship Training If the Provider is not board certified in the specialty in which they practice and has not completed a residency program they must have completed a fellowship program from an accredited training program in the specialty in which they are practicing. When a Provider has completed a Fellowship, Molina always completes either a verification of Board Certification or Verification of Residency in addition to the verification of Fellowship to meet the NCQA requirement of verification of highest level of training.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
Programs, residency completion can be verified through the Federation of State Medical Boards Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS). For podiatrists, confirmation directly from the Council of Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) verifying podiatry residency program. This verification must include the type of training program, specialty of training, the date started, date completed and if the program was successfully completed. Fellowship Training is primary source verified by one of the following methods: Primary source verification of current or expired Board Certification in the same specialty of the Fellowship Training program (as outlined in the Board Certification section of this policy). The American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Master File. This verification must indicate the training has specifically been verified. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Official Osteopathic Physician Profile Report or AOA Physician Master File. This verification must
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
Physicians
TIME LIMIT
WHEN
REQUIRED
Prior to credentialing decision
Initial Credentialing
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Board Certification Board certification in the specialty in which the Provider is practicing is preferred but not required. Initial applicants who are not board certified may be considered for participation if they have satisfactorily completed a residency program from an accredited training program in the specialty in which they are practicing.
Molina recognizes board certification only from the following Boards: American Board of
Medical Specialties (ABMS) American Osteopathic Association (AOA) American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
Molina must document the expiration date of the board
VERIFICATION SOURCE
indicate the training has specifically been verified. Confirmation directly from the accredited training program. This verification must include the type of training program, specialty of training, the date started, date completed and if the program was successfully completed. Board certification is primary source verified through one of the following: An official ABMS (American Board of Medical Specialties) display agent, where a dated certificate of primary-source authenticity has been provided (as applicable). AMA Physician Master File profile (as applicable). AOA Official Osteopathic Physician Profile Report or AOA Physician Master File (as applicable). Confirmation directly from the board. This verification must include the specialty of the certification(s), the original certification date, and the expiration date. On-line directly from the American Board of Podiatric Surgery (ABPS) verification website (as applicable). On-line directly from the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedic
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
Dentists, Oral Surgeons, Physicians, Podiatrists
TIME LIMIT
Must be in effect at the time of decision and verified within One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial & Recredentialing
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certification within the credentialing file. If the board certification does not expire, Molina must verify a lifetime certification status and document in the credentialing file.
American Board of Medical Specialties Maintenance of Certification Programs (MOC) Board certified Providers that fall under the certification standards specified that board certification is contingent upon meeting the ongoing requirements of MOC, no longer list specific end dates to board certification. Molina will list the certification as active without an expiration date and add the document in the credentialing file. General Practitioner Providers who are not board certified and have not completed a training program from an accredited training program are only eligible to be considered for participation as a general Provider in the Molina network.
To be eligible, the Provider must have maintained a primary care practice in good standing for a minimum of the most recent five years without any gaps in work history.
Molina will consider allowing a Provider who is/was board certified and/or residency trained to participate as a general Provider, if the Provider is applying to participate in one of the following specialties :
VERIFICATION SOURCE
and Primary Medicine (ABPOPM) website (as applicable). On-line directly from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery website www.aboms.org (as applicable). On-line directly from the American Board of Addiction Medicine website https://www.abam.net/f ind-a-doctor/ (as applicable).
The last five years of work history in a PCP/General practice must be included on the application or curriculum vitae and must include the beginning and ending month and year for each work experience. Any gaps exceeding six months will be reviewed and clarified either verbally or in writing. Verbal communication will be appropriately documented in the credentialing file. A gap in work history that exceeds 1 year will be clarified in writing directly from the Provider.
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
Physicians
TIME LIMIT
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial Credentialing
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Primary Care Physician Urgent Care Wound Care Advanced Practice Nurse Providers Advanced Practice Nurse Providers must be board certified or eligible to become board certified in the specialty in which they are requesting to practice.
Molina recognizes Board Certification only from the following Boards: American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC) American Academy of Nurse Providers Certification Program (AANP) Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) National Certification Corporation (NCC)
Physician Assistants Physician Assistants must be licensed as a Certified Physician Assistant.
Physician Assistants must also be currently board certified or eligible to become board certified the National Commission on Certification
VERIFICATION SOURCE
Board certification is verified through one of the following: Confirmation directly
from the board. This verification must include the specialty/scope of the certification(s), the original certification date, and the expiration date. Current copy of the board certification certificate including the specialty/scope of the certifications(s), the original certification date and the expiration date On-line directly with licensing board, if the licensing primary verifies a Molina recognized board certification. License must indicate board certification/scope of practice. Provider attests on their application to board certification including the specialty/scope of the certifications(s), the original certification date and the expiration date. Board certification is primary source verified through the following: On-line directly from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCPPA) website https://www.nccpa.net/.
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
Nurse Providers
Physician Assistants
TIME LIMIT One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED Initial and Recredentialing
Initial and Recredentialing
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of Physician Assistants (NCPPA). Providers Not Able To Practice Independently In certain circumstances, Molina may credential a Provider who is not licensed to practice independently. In these instances it would also be required that the Provider providing the supervision and/or oversight be contracted and credentialed with Molina. Some examples of these types of Providers include: Physician Assistants Nurse Providers Work History Provider must supply a minimum of 5-years of relevant work history on the application or curriculum vitae. Relevant work history includes work as a health professional. If the Provider has practiced fewer than 5years from the date of Credentialing, the work history starts at the time of initial licensure. Experience practicing as a non-physician health professional (e.g. registered nurse, nurse Provider, clinical social worker) within the 5 years should be included.
If Molina determines there is a gap in work history exceeding six-months, the Provider must clarify the gap either verbally or in writing. Verbal communication must be appropriately documented in the credentialing file.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
APPLICABLE TIME LIMIT PROVIDER TYPE
WHEN REQUIRED
Confirm from Molina's systems that the Provider providing supervision and/or oversight has been credentialed and contracted.
Nurse Providers, Physician Assistants and other Providers not able to practice independently according to State law
Must be in effect at the time of decision and verified within One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
Initial & Recredentialing
The credentialing application or curriculum vitae must include at least 5-years of work history and must include the beginning and ending month and year for each position in the Provider's employment experience. If a Provider has had continuous employment for five years or more, then there is no gap and no need to provide the month and year; providing the year meets the intent.
All Providers
Molina documents review of work history by including an electronic signature or initials of the employee who reviewed the work history and the date of review on the credentialing checklist or on any of the work history documentation.
One-hundred- Initial eighty (180) Credentialing Calendar Days
If Molina determines there is a gap in work history that exceeds one-year, the
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Provider must clarify the gap in writing. Malpractice History Provider must supply a history of malpractice and professional liability claims and settlement history in accordance with the application. Documentation of malpractice and professional liability claims and settlement history is requested from the Provider on the credentialing application. If there is an affirmative response to the related disclosure questions on the application, a detailed response is required from the Provider. State Sanctions, Restrictions on licensure or limitations on scope of practice Provider must disclose a full history of all license/certification/registrati on actions including denials, revocations, terminations, suspension, restrictions, reductions, limitations, sanctions, probations and non-renewals. Provider must also disclose any history of voluntarily or involuntarily relinquishing, withdrawing, or failure to proceed with an application in order to avoid an adverse action or to preclude an investigation or while under investigation relating to professional competence or conduct. If there is an affirmative response to the related disclosure questions on the application, a detailed response is required from the Provider. Molina will also verify all licenses, certifications and
VERIFICATION SOURCE
APPLICABLE TIME LIMIT PROVIDER TYPE
WHEN REQUIRED
National Provider Data All Providers Bank (NPDB) report
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
Provider must answer the related questions on the credentialing application.
If there are any yes answers to these questions, a detailed written response must be submitted by the Provider.
The appropriate State/Federal agencies are queried directly for every Provider and if there are any sanctions, restrictions or limitations, complete documentation regarding the action will be requested.
The NPDB is queried for every Provider.
All Providers
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
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registrations in every State where the Provider has practiced.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
APPLICABLE TIME LIMIT PROVIDER TYPE
WHEN REQUIRED
At the time of initial application, the Provider must not have any pending or open investigations from any State or governmental professional disciplinary body.3. This would include Statement of Charges, Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action or the equivalent. Medicare, Medicaid and other Sanctions Provider must not be currently sanctioned, excluded, expelled or suspended from any State or federally funded program including but not limited to the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
Provider must disclose all Medicare and Medicaid sanctions. If there is an affirmative response to the related disclosure questions on the application, a detailed response is required from the Provider.
Provider must disclose all debarments, suspensions, proposals for debarments, exclusions or disqualifications under the non-procurement common rule, or when otherwise declared ineligible from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and
The HHS Inspector General, Office of Inspector General (OIG) is queried for every Provider.
Molina queries for State Medicaid sanctions/exclusions/te rminations through each State's specific Program Integrity Unit (or equivalent). In certain circumstances where the State does not provide means to verify this information and Molina has no way to verify State Medicaid sanctions/exclusions/te rminations.
The System for Award Management (SAM) system is queried for every Provider.
The NPDB is queried for every Provider.
All Providers
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
3 If a Provider's application is denied solely because a Provider has a pending Statement of Charges, Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action, Notice of Agency Action or the equivalent from any state or governmental professional disciplinary body, the Provider may reapply as soon as Provider is able to demonstrate that any pending Statement of Charges, Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action, Notice of Agency Action, or the equivalent from any state or governmental professional disciplinary body is resolved, even if the application is received less than one (1) year from the date of original denial.
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certain Federal assistance and benefits. If there is an affirmative response to the related disclosure questions on the application, a detailed response is required from the Provider. Professional Liability Insurance Provider must have and maintain professional malpractice liability insurance with limits that meet Molina criteria as stated below unless otherwise stated in addendum B. This coverage shall extend to Molina Members and the Providers activities on Molina's behalf.
The required limits are as follows:
Physician (MD,DO) Nurse Provider, Certified Nurse Midwife, Oral Surgeon, Physician Assistant, Podiatrist = $1,000,000/$3,000,000
All non-physician Behavioral Health Providers, Naturopaths, Optometrists = $1,000,000/$1,000,000
Acupuncture, Chiropractor, Massage Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Language Pathology = $200,000/$600,000
VERIFICATION SOURCE
A copy of the insurance certificate showing: Name of commercial
carrier or statutory authority The type of coverage is professional liability or medical malpractice insurance Dates of coverage (must be currently in effect) Amounts of coverage Either the specific Provider name or the name of the group in which the Provider works Certificate must be legible
Current Provider application attesting to current insurance coverage. The application must include the following: Name of commercial
carrier or statutory authority The type of coverage is professional liability or medical malpractice insurance Dates of coverage (must be currently in effect) Amounts of coverage
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
All Provider types
TIME LIMIT
Must be in effect at the time of decision and verified within One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial & Recredentialing
Providers maintaining coverage under a Federal tort or self-insured are not required to include amounts of coverage on
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VERIFICATION SOURCE
their application for professional or medical malpractice insurance. A copy of the Federal tort or self-insured letter or an attestation from the Provider showing active coverage are acceptable.
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
TIME LIMIT
WHEN REQUIRED
Inability to Perform Provider must disclose any inability to perform essential functions of a Provider in their area of practice with or without reasonable accommodation. If there is an affirmative response to the related disclosure questions on the application, a detailed response is required from the Provider.
An inquiry regarding inability to perform essential functions may vary. Molina may accept more general or extensive language to query Providers about impairments. Lack of Present Illegal Drug Use Provider must disclose if they are currently using any illegal drugs/substances.
An inquiry regarding illegal drug use may vary. Providers may use language other than
Confirmation directly from the insurance carrier verifying the following: Name of commercial
carrier or statutory authority The type of coverage is professional liability or medical malpractice insurance Dates of coverage (must be currently in effect) Amounts of coverage Provider must answer all the related questions on the credentialing application. If there are any yes answers to these questions, a detailed written response must be submitted by the Provider. The attestation must be signed and dated within one-hundred-eighty (180) calendar days of credentialing decision
Provider must answer all the related questions on the credentialing application.
If there are any yes answers to these questions, a detailed written response must be submitted by the
All Providers All Providers
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
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"drug" to attest they are not presently using illegal substances. Molina may accept more general or extensive language to query Providers about impairments; language does not have to refer exclusively to the present, or only to illegal substances.
If a Provider discloses any issues with substance abuse (e.g. drugs, alcohol) the Provider must provide evidence of either actively and successfully participating in a substance abuse monitoring program or successfully completing a program. Criminal Convictions Provider must disclose if they have ever had any criminal convictions. If there is an affirmative response to the related disclosure questions on the application, a detailed response is required from the Provider.
Provider must not have been convicted of a felony or pled guilty to a felony for a healthcare related crime including but not limited to healthcare fraud, patient abuse and the unlawful manufacture distribution or dispensing of a controlled substance.
Loss or Limitation of Clinical Privileges Provider must disclose all past and present issues regarding loss or limitation of clinical privileges at all facilities or organizations
VERIFICATION SOURCE
Provider. If the Provider
discloses they are currently participating in a substance abuse monitoring program, Molina will verify directly with the applicable substance abuse monitoring program to ensure the Provider is compliant in the program or has successfully completed the program. The attestation must be signed and dated within one-hundred-eighty (180) calendar days of credentialing decision
Provider must answer the related questions on the credentialing application. If there are any yes answers to these questions, a detailed written response must be submitted by the Provider.
If there are any yes answers to these questions, and the crime is related to healthcare, a national criminal history check will be run on the Provider.
The attestation must be signed and dated within one-hundred-eighty (180) calendar days of credentialing decision
Provider must answer the related questions on the credentialing application. If there are any yes answers to these questions, a detailed written
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
All Providers
All Providers
TIME LIMIT
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial & Recredentialing
Initial & Recredentialing
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with which the Provider has had privileges. If there is an affirmative response to the related disclosure questions on the application, a detailed response is required from the Provider.
Hospital Privileges Providers must list all current hospital privileges on their credentialing application. If the Provider has current privileges, they must be in good standing.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
response must be submitted by the Provider. The NPDB will be queried for all Providers. If the Provider has had disciplinary action related to clinical privileges in the last five (5) years, all hospitals where the Provider has ever had privileges will be queried for any information regarding the loss or limitation of their privileges. The Provider's hospital privileges are verified by their attestation on the credentialing application stating the Provider has current hospital admitting privileges.
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
Physicians and Podiatrists
TIME LIMIT
WHEN
REQUIRED
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
Providers may choose not to have clinical hospital privileges if they do not manage care in the inpatient setting. Medicare Opt Out Providers currently listed on the Medicare Opt-Out Report may not participate in the Molina network for any Medicare or Duals (Medicare/Medicaid) lines of business.
NPI Provider must have a National Provider Identifier (NPI) issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
CMS Medicare Opt Out is queried for every Provider. If a Provider opts out of Medicare, that Provider may not accept Federal reimbursement for a period of two (2) years and may not be contracted with Molina for any Medicare or Duals (Medicare/Medicaid) lines of business. On-line directly with
the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) database.
All Providers All Providers
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
One-hundred- Initial & eighty (180) Recredentialing Calendar Days
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VERIFICATION SOURCE
SSA Death Master File Providers must provide their Social Security number. That Social Security number should not be listed on the Social Security Administration Death Master File.
On-line directly with the Social Security Administration Death Master File database.
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
All Providers
TIME LIMIT
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial & Recredentialing
If a Provider's Social Security number is listed on the SSA Death Master File database, Molina will send the Provider a conflicting information letter to confirm the Social Security number listed on the credentialing application was correct.
If the Provider confirms the Social Security number listed on the SSA Death Master database is their number, the Provider will be administratively denied or terminated. Once the Provider's Social Security number has been removed from the SSA Death Master File database, the Provider can reapply for participation into the Molina network.
Review of Performance Indicators Providers going through recredentialing must have documented review of performance indicators collected through clinical quality monitoring process, the utilization management system, the grievance system, enrollee satisfaction surveys, and other quality indicators.
Denials Providers denied by the Molina Credentialing Committee are not eligible to reapply until one (1) year after the date of denial by the Credentialing Committee. At
Written documentation from the Molina Quality Department and other departments as applicable will be included in all recredentialing files.
Confirmation from Molina's systems that the Provider has not been denied by the Molina Credentialing Committee in the past 1-year.
All Providers All Providers
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One-hundred- Initial eighty (180) Credentialing Calendar Days
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the time of reapplication, Provider must meet all criteria for participation. Terminations Providers terminated by the Molina Credentialing Committee or terminated from the Molina network for cause are not eligible to reapply until five years after the date of termination. At the time of reapplication, Provider must meet all criteria for participation. Administrative denials and terminations Providers denied or terminated administratively as described throughout this policy are eligible to reapply for participation anytime as long as the Provider meets all criteria for participation. Employees of Providers denied, terminated, under investigation or in the Fair Hearing Process Molina may determine, in its sole discretion, that a Provider is not eligible to apply for network participation if the Provider is an employee of a Provider or an employee of a company owned in whole or in part by a Provider, who has been denied or terminated from network participation by Molina, who is currently in the Fair Hearing Process, or who is under investigation by Molina.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
Confirm from Molina's systems that the Provider has not been terminated by the Molina Credentialing Committee or terminated from the Molina network for cause in the past 5years.
Confirmation from Molina's systems if a Provider was denied or terminated from the Molina network, that the reason was administrative as described in this policy.
When a Provider is denied or terminated from network participation or who is under investigation by Molina, it will be verified if that Provider has any employees. That information will be reviewed by the Credentialing Committee and/or Medical Director and a determination will be made if they can continue participating in the network.
APPLICABLE PROVIDER TYPE
All Providers
All Providers
All Providers
TIME LIMIT
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
One-hundredeighty (180) Calendar Days
Not applicable
WHEN REQUIRED
Initial Credentialing
Initial Credentialing
Initial and Recredentialing
Molina also may determine, in its sole discretion that a Provider cannot continue network participation if the Provider is an employee of a Provider or an employee of a company owned in whole or in part by a Provider, who has
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CRITERIA
been denied or terminated from network participation by Molina. For purposes of these criteria, a company is "owned" by a Provider when the Provider has at least five percent (5%) financial interest in the company, through shares or other means.
VERIFICATION SOURCE
APPLICABLE TIME LIMIT PROVIDER TYPE
WHEN REQUIRED
Burden of Proof
The Provider shall have the burden of producing adequate information to prove he/she meets all criteria for initial participation and continued participation in the Molina network. This includes but is not limited to proper evaluation of their experience, background, training, demonstrated ability and ability to perform as a Provider without limitation, including physical and mental health status as allowed by Law, and the burden of resolving any doubts about these or any other qualifications to participate in the Molina network. If the Provider fails to provide this information, the credentialing application will be deemed incomplete and it will result in an administrative denial or termination from the Molina network. Providers who fail to provide this burden of proof do not have the right to submit an appeal.
Provider Termination and Reinstatement
If a Provider's contract is terminated and later it is determined to reinstate the Provider, the Provider must be initially credentialed prior to reinstatement, if there is a break in service more than thirty (30) calendar days. The credentialing factors that are no longer within the credentialing time limits and those that will not be effective at the time of the Credentialing Committee's review must be re-verified. The Credentialing Committee or medical director, as appropriate, must review all credentials and make a final determination prior to the Provider's reentry into the network. Not all elements require re-verification; for example, graduation from medical school or residency completion does not change. If the contract termination was administrative only and not for cause, if the break in service is less than thirty (30) calendar days, the Provider can be reinstated without being initially credentialed.
If Molina is unable to recredential a Provider within thirty-six (36) months because the Provider is on active military assignment, maternity leave or sabbatical, but the contract between Molina and the Provider remains in place, Molina will recredential the Provider upon his or her return. Molina will document the reason for the delay in the Provider's file. At a minimum, Molina will verify that a Provider who returns has a valid license to practice before he or she can resume seeing Patients. Within sixty (60) calendar days of notice, when the Provider resumes practice, Molina will complete the recredentialing cycle. If either party terminates their contract and there
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was a break in service for more than thirty (30) calendar days, Molina will initially credential the Provider before the Provider rejoins the network.
Providers Terminating with a Delegate and Contracting with Molina Directly
Providers credentialed by a delegate who terminate their contract with the delegate and either have an existing contract with Molina or wish to contract with Molina directly must be credentialed by Molina within six (6) months of the Provider's termination with the delegate. If the Provider has a break in service more than thirty (30) calendar days, the Provider must be initially credentialed prior to reinstatement.
Credentialing Application
At the time of initial credentialing and recredentialing, the Provider must complete a credentialing application designed to provide Molina with information necessary to perform a comprehensive review of the Provider's credentials. The application must be completed in its entirety. The Provider must attest that their application is complete and correct within onehundred-eighty (180) calendar days of the credentialing decision. The application must be completed in typewritten text, in pen or electronically through applications such as the Counsel for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) Universal Credentialing Data Source. Pencils or erasable ink will not be an acceptable writing instrument for completing credentialing applications. Molina may use another organization's application as long as it meets all the factors. Molina will accept faxed, digital, electronic, scanned or photocopied signatures. A signature stamp is not acceptable on the attestation. The application must include, unless State law requires otherwise: Reason for any inability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without
accommodation; Lack of present illegal drug use; History of loss of license and felony convictions; History of loss or limitation of privileges or disciplinary action; Current malpractice insurance coverage; and, The correctness and completeness of the application.
The Process for Making Credentialing Decisions
All Providers requesting participation with Molina must complete a credentialing application. To be eligible to submit an application, Providers must meet all the criteria outlined above in the section titled "Criteria for Participation in the Molina Network". Providers requesting initial credentialing may not provide care to Molina Members until the credentialing process is complete and final decision has been rendered.
Molina recredentials its Providers at least every thirty-six (36) months. Approximately six (6) months prior to the recredentialing due date, the Provider's application will be downloaded from CAQH® (or a similar NCQA accepted online applications source), or a request will be sent to the Provider requesting completion of a recredentialing application.
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During the initial and recredentialing application process, the Provider must: Submit a completed application within the requested timeframe Attest to the application within the last one-hundred-eighty (180) calendar days Provide Molina adequate information to prove he/she meets all criteria for initial
participation or continued participation in the Molina network.
Once the application is received, Molina will complete all the verifications as outlined in the Molina Credentialing Program Policy. In order for the application to be deemed complete, the Provider must produce adequate information to prove he/she meets all criteria for initial participation or continued participation in the Molina network. All fields within the application must be completed, all required attachments must be included, detailed explanations must be provided to all affirmative answers on the attestation questions and any additional information requested by Molina must be provided.
If the Provider does not provide the information necessary to complete the application process in the time period requested, the application will be deemed incomplete and Molina will discontinue processing of the application. This will result in an administrative denial or administrative termination from the Molina network. Providers who fail to provide proof of meeting the criteria or fail to provide a complete credentialing application do not have the right to submit an appeal.
At the completion of the application and primary source verification process, each credentialing file is quality reviewed to ensure completeness. During this quality review process, each credentialing file is assigned a level based on the guidelines below. Credentialing files assigned a level 1 are considered clean credentialing files and the Medical Director(s) responsible for credentialing has the authority to review and approve them. Credentialing files assigned a level 2 are reviewed by the Molina Credentialing Committee. The Medical Director has the right to request the Credentialing Committee review any credentials file. The Credentialing Committee has the right to request to review any credentials file.
Process for Delegating Credentialing and Recredentialing
Molina will delegate credentialing and recredentialing activities to Independent Practice Associations (IPA) and Provider Groups that meet Molina's requirements for delegation. Molina's Delegation Oversight Committee (DOC) must approve all delegation and subdelegation arrangements, and retains the right to limit or revoke any and all delegated credentialing activities when a delegate fails to meet Molina's requirements. Molina's Credentialing Committee retains the right to approve new Providers and Provider sites and terminate Providers, Providers and sites of care based on requirements in the Molina Credentialing Policy.
To be delegated for credentialing, IPAs and Provider Groups must: Be National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)© accredited or certified for
credentialing or pass Molina's credentialing delegation pre-assessment, which is based on
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NCQA credentialing standards and requirements for the Medicaid and Medicare programs, with a score of at least ninety percent (90%). Correct deficiencies within mutually agreed upon time frames when issues of noncompliance are identified by Molina at pre-assessment. Agree to Molina's contract terms and conditions for credentialing delegates. Submit timely and complete reports to Molina as described in policy and procedure. Comply with all applicable Federal and State Laws. If the IPA or Provider Group sub-delegates primary source verification to a Credentialing Verification Organization (CVO), the CVO must be NCQA certified in all ten areas of accreditation.
Non-Discriminatory Credentialing and Recredentialing
Molina does not make credentialing and recredentialing decisions based on an applicant's race, ethnic/national identity, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation or the types of procedures (e.g. abortions) or patients (e.g. Medicaid or Medicare) in which the Provider specializes. This does not preclude Molina from including in its network Providers who meet certain demographic or specialty needs; for example, to meet cultural needs of Members.
Prevention
Molina takes appropriate steps to protect against discrimination occurring in the credentialing and recredentialing processes. Molina maintains a heterogeneous credentialing committee Membership. It is also required that each committee Member signs an affirmative statement annually to make decisions in a nondiscriminatory manner.
Notification of Discrepancies in Credentialing Information
Molina will notify the Provider immediately in writing in the event that credentialing information obtained from other sources varies substantially from that provided by the Provider. Examples include but are not limited to actions on a license, malpractice claims history or sanctions. Molina is not required to reveal the source of information if the information is not obtained to meet organization credentialing verification requirements or if disclosure is prohibited by Law. Please also refer to the section below titled `Providers Right to Correct Erroneous Information'.
Notification of Credentialing Decisions
A letter is sent to every Provider with notification of the Credentialing Committee or Medical Director decision regarding their participation in the Molina network. This notification is sent within two weeks of the decision. Copies of the letters are filed in the Provider's credentials files. Under no circumstance will notification letters be sent to the Providers later than sixty (60) calendar days from the decision.
Confidentiality and Immunity
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Information regarding any Provider or Provider submitted, collected, or prepared by any representative of this or any other health care facility or organization or medical staff for the purpose of evaluating, improving, achieving or maintaining quality and cost effective patient care shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, be confidential and shall only be disseminated to a Representative in order to carry out appropriate activities under this Policy and Procedure. Confidentiality shall also extend to such information that is provided by third parties.
For purposes of this section a "Representative" shall mean any individual authorized to preform specific information gathering or disseminating functions for the purpose of evaluating, improving, achieving or maintaining quality and cost effective patient care.
For purposes of this section "information" may be any written or oral disclosures including, but not limited to, a Provider's or Provider's professional qualifications, clinical ability, judgment, character, physical or mental health, emotional stability, professional ethics, or any other matter that might directly or indirectly affect patient care or Provider's provision of patient care services.
By providing patient care services at Molina, a Provider: 1. Authorizes representatives of Molina to solicit, provide, and act upon information bearing
on the Provider's qualifications. 2. Agrees to be bound by the provisions of this policy and procedure and to waive all legal
Claims against any representative who acts in accordance with the provisions of this policy and procedure. 3. Acknowledges that the provisions of this policy and procedure are express conditions of the application for, or acceptance of, Molina membership and the continuation of such membership, and to the exercise of clinical privileges or provision of patient care.
The confidentiality and immunity provisions of this policy and procedure shall apply to all information so protected by State or Federal Law. To the fullest extent permitted by State or Federal Law, the confidentiality and immunity provisions of this policy and procedure shall include, but is not limited to: 1. Any type of application or reapplication received by the Provider; 2. Actions reducing, suspending, terminating or revoking a Provider's status, including
requests for corrective actions, investigation reports and documents and all other information related to such action; 3. Hearing and appellate review; 4. Peer review and utilization and quality management activities; 5. Risk management activities and Claims review; 6. Potential or actual liability exposure issues; 7. Incident and/or investigative reports; 8. Claims review; 9. Minutes of all meetings by any committees otherwise appropriately appointed by the Board;
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10. Any activities related to monitoring the quality, appropriateness or safety of health care services;
11. Minutes of any Committees and Subcommittees related to monitoring the quality, appropriateness or safety of health care services;
12. Any Molina operations and actions relating to Provider conduct.
Immunity from Liability for Action Taken: No representative shall be liable to a Provider or any third party for damages or other relief for any decision, opinion, action, statement, or recommendations made within the scope of their duties as representative, if such representative acts in good faith and without malice.
Immunity from Liability for Providing Information: No representative or third parties shall be liable to a Provider for damages or other relief by reason of providing information, including otherwise privileged or confidential information, to a representative or to any third party pursuant to authorization by the Provider, or if permitted or required by; Law, or these Policies and Procedures, provided that such representative or third parties acts in good faith and without malice.
Cumulative Effect: The provisions in this Policy and Procedure and any forms relating to authorizations, confidentiality of information, and immunities from liability are in addition to other protections provided by relevant State and Federal Law, and are not a limitation thereof. All Members (voting and non-voting) and guests of the Credentialing Committee, or any other committee performing any peer review functions or other individuals who participate in peer review functions will sign a Statement of Confidentiality annually. Members and guests of the Credentialing Committee will not discuss, share or use any information for any purpose other than peer review at Molina.
The Director in charge of Credentialing grants access to electronic credentials files only as necessary to complete credentialing work or as required by Law. Access to these documents are restricted to authorized staff, Credentialing Committee Members, peer reviewers and reporting bodies as authorized by the Credentialing Committee or the Governing Board of Molina. Each person is given a unique user ID and password. It is the strict policy of Molina that employees keep their passwords confidential and never share their passwords with anyone. All Credentialing employees are prompted to change their passwords into the system every three (3) months.
Minutes, reports and files of Credentialing Committee meetings are stored in secure electronic folders or in locked cabinets in the Credentialing Department and will be protected from discovery under all applicable Laws.
Copies of minutes and any other related Credentialing Committee meeting materials will not be allowed to be removed from meetings of peer review committees and Credentialing staff will shred extra sets of information from such meetings. Electronic data and/or information are password protected and Molina Staff is instructed not to divulge passwords to their co-workers.
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Providers Rights during the Credentialing Process
Providers have the right to review their credentials file at any time. Providers are notified of their right in a letter sent to them at the time the initial or recredentialing application is received.
The Provider must notify the Credentialing Department and request an appointed time to review their file and allow up to seven (7) calendar days to coordinate schedules. A Medical Director and the Director responsible for Credentialing or the Quality Improvement Director will be present. The Provider has the right to review all information in the credentials file except peer references or recommendations protected by Law from disclosure.
The only items in the file that may be copied by the Provider are documents which the Provider sent to Molina (e.g., the application, the license and a copy of the DEA certificate). Providers may not copy documents that include pieces of information that are confidential in nature, such as the Provider credentialing checklist, the responses from monitoring organizations (i.e. National Provider Data Bank, State Licensing Board), and verification of hospital privileges letters.
Providers Right to Correct Erroneous Information
Providers have the right to correct erroneous information in their credentials file. Providers are notified of their right in a letter sent to them at the time the initial or recredentialing application is received.
Molina will notify the Provider immediately in writing in the event that credentialing information obtained from other sources varies substantially from that provided by the Provider. Examples include but are not limited to actions on a license or malpractice claims history. Molina is not required to reveal the source of information if the information is not obtained to meet organization credentialing verification requirements or if disclosure is prohibited by Law. The notification sent to the Provider will detail the information in question and will include instructions to the Provider indicating: Their requirement to submit a written response within ten (10) calendar days of receiving
notification from Molina. In their response, the Provider must explain the discrepancy, may correct any erroneous
information and may provide any proof that is available. The Provider's response must be sent to Molina Healthcare, Inc. Attention: Credentialing
Director at PO Box 2470, Spokane, WA 99210.
Upon receipt of notification from the Provider, Molina will document receipt of the information in the Provider's credentials file. Molina will then re-verify the primary source information in dispute. If the primary source information has changed, correction will be made immediately to the Provider's credentials file. The Provider will be notified in writing that the correction has been made to their credentials file. If the primary source information remains inconsistent with Providers', the Credentialing Department will notify the Provider. The Provider may then provide proof of correction by the primary source body to Molina's Credentialing Department.
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The Credentialing Department will re-verify primary source information if such documentation is provided.
If the Provider does not respond within ten (10) calendar days, their application processing will be discontinued and network participation will be administratively denied or terminated.
Providers Right to be Informed of Application Status
Providers have a right, upon request, to be informed of the status of their application. Providers applying for initial participation are sent a letter when their application is received by Molina and are notified of their right to be informed of the status of their application in this letter. The Provider can request to be informed of the status of their application by telephone, email or mail. Molina will respond to the request within two working days. Molina may share with the Provider where the application is in the credentialing process to include any missing information or information not yet verified. Molina does not share with or allow a Provider to review references or recommendations, or other information that is peer-review protected.
Credentialing Committee
Molina designates a Credentialing Committee to make recommendations regarding credentialing decisions using a peer review process. Molina works with the Credentialing Committee to strive to assure that network Providers are competent and qualified to provide continuous quality care to Molina Members. A Provider may not provide care to Molina Members until the credentialing process is complete and the final decision has been rendered.
The Credentialing Committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the qualifications of applicants and for making recommendations regarding their participation in the Molina network. In addition, the Credentialing Committee reviews Credentialing Policies and Procedures annually and recommends revisions, additions and/or deletions to the policies and procedures. Composed of network Providers, the committee is responsible for performing peer review of medical information when requested by the Medical Director, and recommending actions based on peer review findings, if needed. The committees report to the Quality Improvement Committee (QIC).
Each Credentialing Committee Member shall be immune, to the fullest extent provided by Law, from liability to an applicant or Provider for damages or other relief for any action taken or statements or recommendations made within the scope of the committee duties exercised.
Committee Composition
The Medical Director chairs the Credentialing Committee and appoints all Credentialing Committee Members. Each Member is required to meet all of Molina's credentialing criteria. Credentialing Committee Members must be current representatives of Molina's Provider network. The Credentialing Committee representation includes at least five Providers. These may include Providers from the following specialties:
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Behavioral Health Dental Family Medicine Internal Medicine Pediatrics OB/GYN Surgery
Additionally, surgical specialists and Internal Medicine specialists may participate on the committee as appropriate. Other ad hoc Providers may be invited to participate when representation of their discipline is needed. Ad hoc committees representing a specific profession (e.g., Nurses and Chiropractors) may be appointed by the chairs to screen applicants from their respective profession and make credentialing recommendations to the Credentialing Committee.
Committee Members Roles and Responsibilities
Committee Members participate in and support the functions of the Credentialing Committee by attending meetings, providing input and feedback and overall guidance of the Credentialing Program.
Review/approve credentialing program policy and related policies established by Molina on an annual basis, or more often as deemed necessary.
Review and consider each applicant's information based on criteria and compliance requirements. The Credentialing Committee votes to make final recommendations regarding applicant's participation in the Molina network.
Conduct ongoing monitoring of those Providers approved to be monitored on a "watch status".
Access clinical peer input when discussing standards of care for a particular type of Provider when there is no committee member of that specialty.
Ensure credentialing activities are conducted in accordance with Molina's Credentialing Program.
Review quality improvement findings as part of the recredentialing and the ongoing monitoring process.
Excluded Providers
Excluded Provider means an individual Provider, or an entity with an officer, director, agent, manager or individual who owns or has a controlling interest in the entity who has been convicted of crimes as specified in section 1128 of the SSA, excluded from participation in the Medicare or Medicaid program, assessed a civil penalty under the provisions of section 1128, or has a contractual relationship with an entity convicted of a crime specified in section 1128.
Pursuant to section 1128 of the SSA, Molina and its Subcontractors may not subcontract with an Excluded Provider/person. Molina and its Subcontractors shall terminate subcontracts immediately when Molina and its Subcontractors become aware of such excluded
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Provider/person or when Molina and its Subcontractors receive notice. Molina and its Subcontractors certify that neither it nor its Member/Provider is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any Federal department or agency. Where Molina and its Subcontractors are unable to certify any of the statements in this certification, Molina and its Subcontractors shall attach a written explanation to this Agreement.
Ongoing Monitoring of Sanctions
Molina monitors Provider sanctions between recredentialing cycles for all Provider types and takes appropriate action against Providers when occurrences of poor quality is identified.
Medicare and Medicaid Sanctions and Exclusions
The United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) Fraud Prevention and Detection Exclusions Program releases a report every month of individuals and entities that have been excluded from Medicare and Medicaid programs. Within thirty (30) calendar days of its release, Molina reviews the report to identify if any Molina Provider is found with a sanction. If a Molina Provider is found to be sanctioned by the OIG the Provider's contract will immediately be terminated effective the same date the sanction was implemented.
Molina also monitors each State Medicaid sanctions/exclusions/terminations through each State's specific Program Integrity Unit (or equivalent). Molina reviews each State's published report within thirty (30) days of its release to identify if any Molina Provider is found to be sanctioned/excluded/terminated from any State's Medicaid program,. If a Molina Provider is found to be sanctioned/excluded/terminated, the Provider will be immediately terminated in every State where they are contracted with Molina and for every line of business.
Sanctions or Limitations on Licensure
Molina monitors for sanctions or limitations against licensure between credentialing cycles for all network Providers. All sanction or limitation of license information discovered during the ongoing monitoring process will be maintained in the Provider credentialing file. All Providers with identified sanctions or limitations on license in the ongoing monitoring process will be immediately placed into the full credentialing process and will be recredentialed early. The Provider must provide all necessary information to complete the recredentialing process within the requested time-frames or the Provider will be administratively terminated from the network. The complete recredentialing file will be reviewed at the next scheduled Credentialing Committee meeting for a recommendation.
NPDB Continuous Query
Molina enrolls all network Providers with the National Practitioner Data Bank ("NPDB") Continuous Query service.
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Once the Provider is enrolled in the Continuous Query Service, Molina will receive instant notification of all new NPDB reports against the enrolled Providers. When a new report is received between recredentialing cycles, the Provider will be immediately placed into the full credentialing process and will be recredentialed early. The Provider must provide all necessary information to complete the recredentialing process within the requested time-frames or the Provider will be administratively terminated from the network. The complete recredentialing file will be reviewed at the next scheduled Credentialing Committee meeting for a determination.
Member Complaints/Grievances
Each Molina Health Plan has a process in place to investigate Provider-specific complaints from Members upon their receipt. Molina evaluates both the specific complaint and the Provider's history of issues, if applicable. The history of complaints is evaluated for all Providers at least every six (6) months.
Adverse Events
Each Molina Health Plan has a process in place for monitoring Provider adverse events at least every six (6) months. An adverse event is an injury that occurs while a Member is receiving health care services from a Provider. Molina monitors for adverse events at least every six (6) months.
Medicare Opt-Out
Providers participating in Medicare must not be listed on the Medicare Opt-Out report. Molina reviews the Opt-Out reports released from the appropriate Medicare financial intermediary showing all of the providers who have chosen to Opt-Out of Medicare. These reports are reviewed within thirty (30) calendar days of their release. If a Provider opts out of Medicare, that Provider may not accept Federal reimbursement for a period of two (2) years. These Provider contracts will be immediately terminated for the Molina Medicare line of business.
Social Security Administration (SSA) Death Master File
Molina screens Provider names against the SSA Death Master File database during initial and recredentialing to ensure Provider are not fraudulently billing under a deceased person's social security number. The names are also screened on a monthly basis to ensure there are no matches on the SSA Death Master File between credentialing cycles. If Molina identifies an exact match, the Provider will be immediately terminated for all lines of business effective the deceased date listed on the SSA Death Master File database.
System for Award Management (SAM)
Molina monitors the SAM once per month to ensure Providers have not been sanctioned. If a Molina Provider is found with a sanction, the Provider's contract is immediately terminated effective the same date the sanction was implemented.
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Program Integrity (Disclosure of Ownership/Controlling Interest)
Medicaid Managed Care health plans are required to collect specific information from network Providers prior to contracting and during credentialing to ensure that it complies with Federal regulations that require monitoring of Federal and State sanctions and exclusions databases. This monitoring ensures that any network Providers and the following details of any individual/entity being contracted and those individuals/entities affiliated with the contractor are appropriately screened against these sources, ensuring compliance with Social Security Act (SSA) section 1903(i)(2) of the Act; 42 CFR 455.104, 42 CFR 455.106, and 42 CFR 1001.1901(b). The categorical details required and collected are as follows: 1. Molina requires a current and complete Disclosure of Ownership and Control Interest
Form during the credentialing process. Molina screens all individual names and entities listed on the form against the OIG, SAM, Medicare Opt-Out and each State's specific Program Integrity Unit databases at the time of initial credentialing and recredentialing. These individual names and entities are also screened monthly for any currently sanctioned/excluded/terminated individuals or entities. Molina will not make any payments for goods or services that directly or indirectly benefit any excluded individual or entity This monitoring ensures that any individual/entity being contracted and those individuals/entities affiliated with the contractor are appropriately screened against Federal and State agency sources, ensuring compliance with 42 CFR §455. The following categorical details are collected and required on the Disclosure of Ownership and Control Interest during the credentialing and recredentialing process: a. Detailed identifying information for any individual who has ownership or
controlling interest in the individual/entity being contracted if that individual has a history of criminal activity related to Medicaid, Medicare, or Title XX services (see 42 CFR §455.106). b. Detailed identifying information for all individuals who exercise operational or managerial control either directly or indirectly over daily operations and activities (see 42 CFR §455.101). c. Detailed identifying information for all individuals or entities that have a five percent (5%) or more ownership or controlling interest in the individual/entity being contracted (see 42 CFR §455.104). 2. Molina requires the Disclosure of Ownership and Control Interest Form be reviewed and re-attested to every thirty-six (36) months to ensure the information is correct and current. 3. Molina screens the entire contracted Provider network against the OIG, SAM, Medicare Opt-Out, each State's specific Program Integrity Unit and Social Security Death Master File databases at initial credentialing and recredentialing, as well as, monthly for any currently sanctioned/excluded/terminated individuals or entities. Molina will not make any payments for goods or services that directly or indirectly benefit any excluded individual or entity. 4. Molina will immediately recover any payments for goods and services that benefit excluded individuals and entities that it discovers. Molina will immediately terminate any employment, contractual and control relationships with an excluded individual and entity that it discovers.
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5. If a State specific Program Integrity Unit notifies Molina an individual or entity is excluded from participation in Medicaid, Molina will terminate all beneficial, employment, and contractual and control relationships with the excluded individual or entity immediately.
Office Site and Medical Record Keeping Practices Review
A review of office sites where you see Molina Members may be required. This review may be scheduled as soon as the Credentialing Department receives your application. This may also include a review of your medical record keeping practices. A passing score is required to complete the application process. Your cooperation in working with the site review staff and implementing any corrective action plans will expedite a credentialing decision.
Office site and medical record keeping reviews may also be initiated if any Member complaints are received regarding the physical accessibility, physical appearance or adequacy of waiting room and examining room space.
Range of Actions, Notification to Authorities and Provider Appeal Rights
Molina uses established criteria in the review of Providers' performance. All adverse actions taken by the Credentialing Committee are conducted in compliance with the Fair Hearing Plan and the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act of 1986.
Range of Actions Available
The Molina Credentialing Committee can take one of the following actions against Providers who fail to meet credentialing standards or who fail to meet performance expectations pertaining to quality of patient care: Monitor on a Watch Status Require formal corrective action Denial of network participation Termination from network participation In cases where the Medical Director determines the circumstances pose an immediate risk to
patients, a Provider may be summarily suspended from participation in the network, without prior notice, pending review and investigation of information relevant to the case.
This applies to all Providers who are contracted by Molina. These actions do not apply to applicants who do not meet basic conditions of participation and are ineligible for participation. If at any point a Provider fails to meet the minimum standards and criteria for credentialing or fails to meet performance expectations with regard to quality of patient care the Credentialing Committee may act to implement one of these actions. Termination may be taken after reasonable effort has been made to obtain all the facts of the matter and the Provider may be given the opportunity to appeal this decision.
Criteria for Denial or Termination Decisions by the Credentialing Committee
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The criteria used by the Credentialing Committee to make a decision to deny or terminate a Provider from the Molina network include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. The Provider's professional license in any State has or has ever had any informal or
formal disciplinary orders, decisions, agreements, disciplinary actions or other actions including but not limited to, restrictions, probations, limitations, conditions suspensions and revocations. 2. Provider has or has ever surrendered, voluntarily or involuntarily, his or her professional license in any State while under investigation by the State or due to findings by the State resulting from the Provider's acts, omissions or conduct. 3. Provider has any pending statement of charges, notice of proposed disciplinary actions, notice of agency action or the equivalent from any State or governmental professional disciplinary body which based on the judgment of the Credentialing Committee establishes an immediate potential risk to the quality of care or service delivered by the Provider to Molina Members. 4. Provider has or has ever had any restrictions, probations, limitations, conditions, suspensions or revocations on their Federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) certificate or Registration. 5. Provider has a condition, restriction or limitation on their license, certification or registration related to an alcohol, chemical dependency, or health condition or if other evidence indicates that the Provider has an alcohol, chemical dependency problem or health condition and there is no clear evidence and documentation demonstrating that the Provider has complied with all such conditions, limitations, or restrictions and is receiving treatment adequate to ensure that the alcohol, chemical dependency problem or health condition will not affect the quality of the Provider's practice. 6. Provider has or has ever had sanctions of any nature taken by any Governmental Program or professional body including but not limited to, Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Employee Program or any other State or Federal program or agency. 7. Provider has or has ever had any denials, limitations, suspensions or terminations of participation of privileges or surrendered privileges while under investigation by any health care institution, plan, facility or clinic. 8. Provider's history of medical malpractice claims or professional liability claims or settlements reflect what constitutes a pattern of questionable or inadequate treatment or contain what constitutes any gross or flagrant incident or incidents of malpractice. 9. Provider has a criminal history, including, but not limited to, any criminal charges, criminal investigations, convictions, no-contest pleas and guilty pleas. 10. Provider has or has ever had involvement in acts of dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation that relate to or impact or could relate to or impact the Provider's professional conduct or the health, safety or welfare of Molina Members. 11. Provider has or has ever engaged in acts which Molina, in its sole discretion, deems inappropriate. 12. Provider has or has ever had a pattern of Member complaints or grievances in which there appears to be a concern regarding the quality of service provided to Molina Members. 13. Provider has not complied with Molina's quality assurance program.
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14. Provider is found to have rendered a pattern of substandard care or is responsible for any gross or flagrant incident of substandard care.
15. Provider has or has ever displayed inappropriate patterns of referral, which deviate substantially from reasonably expected patterns of referral.
16. Provider makes or has ever made any material misstatements in or omissions from their credentialing application and attachments.
17. Provider has ever rendered services outside the scope of their license. 18. Provider has or has ever had a physical or mental health condition that may impair their
ability to practice with the full scope of licensure and qualifications, or might pose a risk of harm on patients. 19. Provider has or has ever failed to comply with the Molina Medical Record Review Guidelines. 20. Provider has or has ever failed to comply with the Molina Site Review or Medical Record Keeping Practice Review Guidelines.
Monitoring Providers Approved on a `Watch Status' by the Committee
Molina uses the credentialing category "watch status" for Providers whose initial or continued participation is approved by the Credentialing Committee with follow-up to occur. The Credentialing Committee may approve a Provider to be monitored on watch status when there are unresolved issues or when the Credentialing Committee determines that the Provider needs to be monitored for any reason.
When a Provider is approved on watch status, the Credentialing Department conducts the followup according to the Credentialing Committee direction. Any unusual findings are reported immediately to the Molina Medical Director to determine if immediate action is necessary. Every unusual finding is reviewed in detail at the next Credentialing Committee meeting for review and recommendation.
Corrective Action
In cases where altering the conditions of participation is based on issues related to quality of care and/or service, Molina may work with the Provider to establish a formal corrective action plan to improve performance, prior to, or in lieu of suspending or terminating his or her participation status.
A corrective action plan is a written improvement plan, which may include, but is not limited to the following: Identifying the performance issues that do not meet expectations What actions/processes will be implemented for correction Who is responsible for the corrective action What improvement/resolution is expected How improvements will be assessed Scheduled follow-up, monitoring (compliance review, normally not to exceed six (6)
months)
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Within ten (10) calendar days of the Credentialing Committee's decision to place Provider on a corrective action plan, the Provider will be notified via a certified letter from the Medical Director. Such notification will outline: The reason for the corrective action The corrective action plan
If the corrective actions are resolved, the Provider's performance may or may not be monitored, as deemed appropriate. If the corrective action(s) are not adequately resolved within the designated time, depending on the circumstances of the case, the Credentialing Committee may recommend that the Provider continue on an improvement plan, or recommend suspension or termination. All recommendations for termination that result from a lack of appropriate Provider response to corrective action will be brought to the Credentialing Committee for review and decision.
Summary Suspension
In cases where the Credentialing Committee or the Medical Director becomes aware of circumstances that pose an immediate risk to patients, the Provider may be summarily suspended from participation in the network, without prior notice, pending review and investigation of information relevant to the case.
Such summary suspension shall become effective immediately upon imposition, and the Medical Director shall promptly notify the Provider of the suspension by written notification sent via certified letter. Notification will include the following: A description of the action being taken. Effective date of the action. The reason(s) for the action and/or information being investigated. Information (if any) required from the Provider. The length of the suspension. The estimated timeline for determining whether or not to reinstate or terminate the Provider. Details regarding the Providers right to request a fair hearing within thirty (30) calendar days
of receipt of the notice and their right to be represented by an attorney or another person of their choice (see Fair Hearing Plan policy). If the Provider does not request a fair hearing within the thirty (30) calendar days, they have waived their rights to a hearing. The action will be reported to the NPDB if the suspension is in place longer than thirty (30) calendar days.
Upon initiation of the suspension, the Medical Director and credentialing staff will commence investigation of the issues. Findings of the investigation will be presented to the Credentialing Committee. The Credentialing Committee has the authority to implement corrective action, place conditions on the Provider's continued participation, discontinue the suspension or terminate the Provider.
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Denial
After review of appropriate information, the Credentialing Committee may determine that the Provider should not be approved for participation in the Molina network. The Credentialing Committee may then vote to deny the Provider.
The Provider will not be reported to the NPDB and will not be given the right to a fair hearing. Within ten (10) calendar days of the Committee's decision, the Provider is sent a written notice of denial via certified mail, from the Medical Director, which includes the reason for the denial.
Termination
After review of appropriate information, the Credentialing Committee may determine that the Provider does not meet performance expectations pertaining to quality of care, services or established performance/professional standards. The Credentialing Committee may then vote to terminate the Provider.
Terminations for Reasons Other Than Unprofessional Conduct or Quality of Care
If the termination is based on reasons other than unprofessional conduct or quality of care, the Provider will not be reported to the NPDB and will not be given the right to a fair hearing. Within ten (10) calendar days of the Committee's decision, the Provider is sent a written notice of termination via certified mail, from the Medical Director, which includes the following: 1. A Description of the action being taken 2. Reason for termination
Terminations Based on Unprofessional Conduct or Quality of Care
If the termination is based on unprofessional conduct or quality of care, the Provider will be given the right to a fair hearing.
Within ten (10) calendar days of the Committee's decision, the Provider is sent a written notice of Molina's intent to terminate them from the network, via certified mail from the Medical Director, which includes the following: A Description of the action being taken. Reason for termination. Details regarding the Provider's right to request a fair hearing within thirty (30) calendar
days of receipt of notice (see Fair Hearing Plan policy). The Fair Hearing Policy explains that Molina will appoint a hearing officer and a panel of individuals to review the appeal. The Provider does not request a fair hearing within the thirty (30) calendar days; they have waived their rights to a hearing. The notice will include a copy of the Fair Hearing Plan Policy describing the process in detail. Provider's right to be represented by an attorney or another person of their choice.
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Obligations of the Provider regarding further care of Molina Patients/Members. The action will be reported to the NPDB and the State Licensing Board.
Molina will wait thirty (30) calendar days from the date the terminated Provider received the notice of termination. If the Provider requests a fair hearing within that required timeframe, Molina will follow the Fair Hearing Plan Policy. Once the hearing process is completed, the Provider will receive written notification of the appeal decision which will contain specific reasons for the decision (see Fair Hearing Plan Policy). If the hearing committee's decision is to uphold the termination, the action will be reported to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB as defined in reporting to appropriate authorities section below. If the hearing committee overturns the termination decision and the Provider remains in the Molina network, the action will not be reportable to the State Licensing Board or to the NPDB.
If the Provider does not request a hearing within the thirty (30) calendar days, they have waived their rights to a hearing and the termination will become the final decision. A written notification of the final termination will be sent to the Provider and the termination will be reported to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB as defined in reporting to appropriate authorities section below.
Reporting to Appropriate Authorities
Molina will make reports to appropriate authorities as specified in the Molina Fair Hearing Plan Policy when the Credentialing Committee takes or recommends certain Adverse Actions for a Provider based upon Unprofessional Conduct or quality of care. Adverse Actions include: Revocation, termination of, or expulsion from Molina Provider status. Summary Suspension in effect or imposed for more than thirty (30) calendar days. Any other final action by Molina that by its nature is reportable to the State Licensing Board
and the NPDB.
Within fifteen (15) calendar days of the effective date of the final action, the Manager responsible for credentialing reports the action to the following authorities: All appropriate State licensing agencies National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB)
A letter is then written to the appropriate State licensing boards describing the adverse action taken, the Provider it was taken against and a copy of the NPDB report is attached to the letter. This letter is sent certified to the appropriate State licensing boards within twenty-four (24) hours of receiving the final NPDB report. A copy of this letter is filed into the Provider's credentials file. The action is also reported to other applicable State entities as required.
Fair Hearing Plan Policy
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Under State and Federal Law, certain procedural rights shall be granted to a Provider in the event that peer review recommendations and actions require a report be made to the State Licensing Board and the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).
Molina Healthcare, Inc., and its Affiliates ("Molina"), will maintain and communicate the process providing procedural rights to Providers when a final action by Molina will result in a report to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB.
A. Definitions
1. Adverse Action shall mean an action that entitles a Provider to a hearing, as set forth in Section B (l)-(3) below.
2. Chief Medical Officer shall mean the Chief Medical Officer for the respective Molina Affiliate State plan wherein the Provider is contracted.
3. Days shall mean calendar days. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this Policy, the day of the act or event from which the designated period of time begins shall not be included.
4. Medical Director shall mean the Medical Director for the respective Molina Affiliate State plan wherein the Provider is contracted.
5. Molina Plan shall mean the respective Molina Affiliate State plan wherein the Provider is contracted.
6. Notice shall mean written notification sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or personal delivery.
7. Peer Review Committee or Credentialing Committee shall mean a Molina Plan committee or the designee of such a committee.
8. Plan President shall mean the Plan President for the respective Molina Affiliate State plan wherein the Provider is contracted.
9. Provider shall mean physicians, dentists, and other health care Practitioners as defined by 42 USC 11151 and Social Security Act § 1861(u).
10. State shall mean the licensing board in the State in which the Provider practices. 11. State Licensing Board shall mean the State agency responsible for the licensure of
Provider. 12. Unprofessional Conduct refers to a basis for corrective action or termination
involving an aspect of a Provider's competence or professional conduct which is reasonably likely to be detrimental to patient safety or the delivery of quality care. Unprofessional conduct does not refer to instances where a Provider violates a material term of the Provider's contract with a Molina Plan.
B. Grounds for a Hearing
Grounds for a hearing exist whenever the Peer Review Committee or Credentialing Committee takes or recommends any of the following Adverse Actions for a Provider based upon Unprofessional Conduct:
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1. Revocation, termination of, or expulsion from Molina Provider status when such revocation, termination, or expulsion is reportable to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB.
2. Suspension, reduction, limitation, or revocation of authority to provide care to Molina Members when such suspension, reduction, limitation, or revocation is reportable to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB.
3. Any other final action by Molina that by its nature is reportable to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB.
C. Notice of Action
If the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee have recommended an Adverse Action, the Committee shall give written notice to the Provider by certified mail with return receipt requested. The notice shall: 1. State the reasons for the action; 2. State any Credentialing Policy provisions that have been violated; 3. Advise the Provider that he/she has the right to request a hearing on the proposed
Adverse Action; 4. Advise the Provider that any request for hearing must be made in writing within thirty
(30) days following receipt of the Notice of Action, and must be sent to the respective Molina Plan Medical Director by certified mail, return receipt requested, or personal delivery; 5. Advise the Provider that he/she has the right to be represented by an attorney or another person of their choice. 6. Advise the Provider that the request for a hearing must be accompanied by a check in the amount of $1,000.00 as a deposit for the administrative expenses of the hearing and specify that this amount will be refunded if the Adverse Action is overturned; 7. State that the proposed action or recommendation, if adopted, must be reported pursuant to State and Federal Law; and, 8. Provide a summary of the Provider's hearing rights or attach a copy of this Policy.
D. Request for a Hearing - Waiver
If the Provider does not request a hearing in writing to the Chief Medical Officer within thirty (30) days following receipt of the Notice of Action, the Provider shall be deemed to have accepted the action or recommendation of the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee, and such action or recommendation shall be submitted to the Chief Medical Officer for final decision. In the event that a timely written Request for Hearing is received, a Hearing Officer and/or hearing panel shall be appointed as set forth below and the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee shall provide the Provider with a Notice of Hearing and Statement of Charges consistent with this Policy.
A Provider who fails to request a hearing within the time and in the manner specified above waives his or her right to any hearing to which he or she might otherwise have been entitled. If the Provider waives his or her right to any hearing by failing to request a hearing within the time
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and in the manner specified above, the recommendation of the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee taking or recommending the Adverse Action shall be forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer for final approval. In the event of a submittal to the Chief Medical Officer upon the Provider's waiver as set forth herein, the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee may submit to the Chief Medical Officer additional information relevant to its recommended Adverse Action to be considered by the Chief Medical Officer in accepting or rejecting the recommended Adverse Action.
E. Appointment of a Hearing Committee
1. Composition of Hearing Committee
The Chief Medical Officer/Plan President shall select the individuals to serve on the Hearing Committee. The Hearing Committee shall consist of individuals who are not in direct economic competition with the subject Provider; who shall gain no direct financial benefit from the outcome of the hearing; and, who shall have not acted as accuser, investigator, fact finder, initial decision maker or otherwise have not actively participated in the consideration of the matter leading up to the recommendation or action. General knowledge of the matter involved shall not preclude a physician from serving as a Member of the panel.
The panel shall consist of three or more Providers and shall include, whenever feasible, at least one individual practicing the same specialty as the affected Provider. In the event Providers are not available to sit as Hearing Committee members, physicians from the community may be substituted by the Medical Director.
2. Scope of Authority
The Hearing Committee shall have the authority to interpret and apply this Policy insofar as it relates to its powers and duties.
3. Responsibilities
The Hearing Committee shall: a. Evaluate evidence and testimony presented. b. Issue a decision accepting, rejecting, or modifying the decision of the Peer
Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee. c. Maintain the privacy of the hearing unless the Law provides to the
contrary.
4. Vacancies
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In the event of a vacancy in a hearing panel after a hearing has commenced, the remaining panel members may continue with the hearing and determination of the controversy, unless the parties agree otherwise.
5. Disclosure and Challenge Procedures
Any person appointed to the Hearing Committee shall disclose to the Chief Medical Officer/Plan President any circumstance likely to affect impartiality, including any bias or a financial or personal interest in the result of the hearing or any past or present relationship with the parties or their representatives. The Hearing Officer may remove any person appointed to the Hearing Committee if the Hearing Officer believes that the person is unable to render an impartial decision.
F. Hearing Officer
1. Selection
The Chief Medical Officer and/or Plan President shall appoint a Hearing Officer, who may be an attorney. The Hearing Officer shall gain no direct financial benefit from the outcome of the hearing, shall not act as a prosecuting officer or advocate, and shall not be entitled to vote.
2. Scope of Authority
The Hearing Officer shall have the sole discretion and authority to: a. Exclude any witness, other than a party or other essential person. b. Determine the attendance of any person other than the parties and their
counsel and representatives. c. For good cause shown to postpone any hearing upon the request of a party
or upon a Hearing Committee's own initiative, and shall also grant such postponement when all of the parties agree thereto.
3. Responsibilities
The Hearing Officer shall: a. Guide the hearing process, including endeavoring to assure that all
participants in the hearing have a reasonable opportunity to be heard and to present relevant oral and documentary evidence in an efficient and expeditious manner; b. Ensure that proper decorum is maintained; c. Be entitled to determine the order of, or procedure for, presenting evidence and argument during the hearing; d. Issue rulings pertaining to matters of Law, procedure and the admissibility of evidence;
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e. Issue rulings on any objections or evidentiary matters; f. Discretion to limit the amount of time; g. Assure that each witness is sworn in by the court reporter; h. May ask questions of the witnesses (but must remain neutral/impartial); i. May meet in private with the panel members to discuss the conduct of the
hearing; j. Remind all witnesses at the conclusion of their testimony of the
confidentiality of the hearing; k. Participate in the deliberations of the Hearing Committee as a legal
advisor, but shall not be entitled to vote; and, l. Prepare the written report.
G. Time and Place of Hearing
Upon receipt of a Request for Hearing, the Chief Medical Officer and/or Plan President shall schedule and arrange for a hearing. The Chief Medical Officer and/or Plan President shall give notice to the affected Provider of the time, place and date of the hearing, as set forth below. The date of commencement of the hearing shall be not less than thirty (30) days from the date of the Notice of the Hearing, and not more than sixty (60) days from the date of receipt of the Request for Hearing. Notwithstanding the above timeframes, the parties may agree to extensions, or the Hearing Officer may grant an extension on a showing of good cause. If more than one meeting is required for a hearing, the Hearing Officer shall set the date, time, and location for additional meetings.
H. Notice of Hearing
The Notice of Hearing shall contain and provide the affected Provider with the following: 1. The date, time and location of the hearing. 2. The name of the Hearing Officer. 3. The names of the Hearing Committee Members. 4. A concise statement of the affected Provider's alleged acts or omissions giving rise to the
Adverse Action or recommendation, and any other reasons or subject matter forming the basis for the Adverse Action or recommendation which is the subject of the hearing. 5. The names of witnesses, so far as they are then reasonably known or anticipated, who are expected to testify on behalf of the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee, provided the list may be updated as necessary and appropriate, but not later than ten (10) days prior to the commencement of the hearing. 6. A list of all documentary evidence forming the bases of the charges reasonably necessary to enable the Provider to prepare a defense, including all documentary evidence which was considered by the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee in recommending the Adverse Action.
Except with regard to the disclosure of witnesses, as set forth above, the Notice of Hearing may be amended from time to time, but not later than the close of the case at the conclusion of the
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hearing by the Hearing Committee. Such amendments may delete, modify, clarify or add to the acts, omissions, or reasons specified in the original Notice of Hearing.
I. Pre-Hearing Procedures
1. The Provider shall have the following pre-hearing rights: a. To inspect and copy, at the Provider's expense, documents upon which the charges are based which the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee have in its possession or under its control; and, b. To receive, at least thirty (30) days prior to the hearing, a copy of the evidence forming the basis of the charges which is reasonably necessary to enable the Provider to prepare a defense, including all evidence that was considered by the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee in recommending Adverse Action.
2. The Hearing Committee shall have the following pre-hearing right:
To inspect and copy, at Molina's expense, any documents or other evidence relevant to the charges which the Provider has in his or her possession or control as soon as practicable after receiving the hearing request.
3. The Hearing Officer shall consider and rule upon any request for access to information and may impose any safeguards required to protect the peer review process, privileges and ensure justice. In so doing, the Hearing Officer shall consider: a. Whether the information sought may be introduced to support or defend the charges; b. The exculpatory or inculpatory nature of the information sought, if any; c. The burden attendant upon the party in possession of the information sought if access is granted; and, d. Any previous requests for access to information submitted or resisted by the parties.
4. The Provider shall be entitled to a reasonable opportunity to question and object to or challenge the impartiality of members of the Hearing Committee and the Hearing Officer. Challenges to the impartiality of any Hearing Committee member or the Hearing Officer shall be ruled on by the Hearing Officer.
5. It shall be the duty of the Provider, the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee to exercise reasonable diligence in notifying the Hearing Officer of any pending or anticipated procedural disputes as far in advance of the scheduled hearing as possible, in order that decisions concerning such matters may be made in advance of the hearing. Objections to any prehearing decisions may be succinctly made at the hearing.
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6. Failure to disclose the identity of a witness or produce copies of all documents expected to be produced at least ten (10) days before the commencement of the hearing shall constitute good cause for a continuance or limitation of the evidence or the testimony if deemed appropriate by the Hearing Officer.
7. The right to inspect and copy by either party does not extend to confidential information referring solely to individually identifiable physicians or patients, other than the Provider under review, or to information, interviews, reports, statements, findings and conclusions resulting from studies or other data prepared specifically to be submitted for review purposes made privileged by operation of State.
J. Conduct of Hearing
1. Rights of the Parties
Within reasonable limitations, and as long as these rights are exercised in an efficient and expeditious manner, both sides at the hearing may: a. Call and examine witnesses for relevant testimony. b. Introduce relevant exhibits or other documents. c. Cross-examine or impeach witnesses who have testified orally on any
matter relevant to the issues. d. Otherwise rebut evidence. e. Have a record made of the proceedings. f. Submit a written statement at the close of the hearing. g. Receive the written recommendation of the Hearing Officer or Hearing
Committee, including a statement of the basis for the recommendations, upon completion of the hearing.
The Provider may be called by the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee and examined as if under cross-examination.
2. Course of the Hearing
a. Each party may make an oral opening statement. b. The Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee shall call
any witnesses and present relevant documentary evidence to support its recommendation. c. The affected Provider may then call any witnesses and present relevant documentary evidence supporting his/her defense. d. The Hearing Committee or Officer has the discretion to vary the course of the hearing, but shall afford a full and equal opportunity to all parties for the presentation of material and relevant evidence and for the calling of witnesses.
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e. The Hearing Committee shall be the judge of the relevance and materiality of the evidence offered, and conformity to legal rules of evidence shall not be necessary. All evidence shall be taken in the presence of the entire Hearing Committee and all of the parties, except when agreed to by the parties, or determined by the Hearing Officer.
3. Use of Exhibits
a. Exhibits, when offered by either party, may be received into evidence by the Hearing Committee as ruled upon by the Hearing Officer.
b. A description of the exhibits in the order received shall be made a part of the record.
4. Witnesses
a. Witnesses for each party shall submit to questions or other examination. b. The Hearing Officer shall have the power to sequester witnesses (exclude
any witness, other than a party or other essential person, during the testimony of any other witness). The names and addresses of all witnesses and a description of their testimony in the order received shall be made a part of the record. c. The Hearing Committee may receive and consider the evidence of witnesses by affidavit, but shall give it only such weight as the Hearing Committee deems it is entitled to after consideration of any objection made to its admission. d. The party producing such witnesses shall pay the expenses of their witnesses.
5. Rules for Hearing:
a. Attendance at Hearings
Only those persons having a direct interest in the hearing are entitled to attend the hearing. This means that the hearing will be closed except for the parties and their representatives. The only exception is when good cause is shown satisfactory to the Hearing Officer that it is necessary in the interest and fairness of the hearing to have others present.
b. Communication with Hearing Committee
There shall be no direct communication between the parties and the Hearing Committee other than at the hearing, unless the parties and the Hearing Committee agree otherwise. Any other oral or written communication from the parties to the Hearing Committee shall be directed to the Hearing Officer for transmittal to the Hearing Committee.
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c. Interpreter
Any party wishing to utilize an interpreter shall make all arrangements directly with the interpreter and shall assume the costs of the services.
K. Close of the Hearing
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Hearing Officer shall dismiss all parties and participate in the deliberations of the Hearing Committee. The Hearing Committee shall render its final decision by a majority vote, including findings of fact and a conclusion articulating the connection between the evidence produced at the hearing and the decision reached to the Hearing Officer.
Within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the deliberations, the Hearing Officer shall issue a written report including the following: 1. A summary of facts and circumstances giving rise to the hearing. 2. A description of the hearing, including:
a. The panel members' names and specialties; b. The Hearing officer's name; c. The date of the hearing; d. The charges at issue; and, e. An overview of witnesses heard and evidence. 3. The findings and recommendations of the Hearing Committee. 4. Any dissenting opinions desired to be expressed by the hearing panel members.
Final adjournment of the Hearing Committee shall occur when the Hearing Officer has mailed or otherwise delivered the written report.
L. Burden of Proof
In all hearings it shall be incumbent on the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee taking or recommending an Adverse Action to come forward initially with evidence in support of its action or decision. Thereafter, the Provider who requested the hearing shall come forward with evidence in his/her support.
The burden of proof during a hearing shall be as follows:
The Peer Review Committee or Credentialing Committee taking or recommending the Adverse Action shall bear the burden of persuading the Hearing Committee that its action or recommendation is reasonable and warranted. The term "reasonable and warranted" means within the range of alternatives reasonably available to the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee taking or recommending Adverse Action under the circumstances and not necessarily that the action or recommendation is the only measure or the best measure that could have been taken or formulated.
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M. Provider Failure to Appear or Proceed
Failure, without good cause, of the Provider to personally attend and proceed at a hearing in an efficient and orderly manner shall be deemed to constitute voluntary acceptance of the recommendations or actions involved.
N. Record of the Hearing/Oath
A court reporter shall be present to make a record of the hearing proceedings and the pre-hearing proceedings, if deemed appropriate by the Hearing Officer. The cost of attendance of the reporter shall be borne by Molina, but the cost of the transcript, if any, shall be borne by the party requesting it. The Hearing Officer shall be required to order that all oral evidence be taken by oath administered by a person lawfully authorized to administer such oath.
O. Representation
Each party shall be entitled to representation by an attorney at Law, or other representative at the hearing, at their own expense, to represent their interests, present their case, offer materials in support thereof, examine witnesses, and/or respond to appropriate questions.
P. Postponements
The Hearing Officer, for good cause shown, may postpone any hearing upon the request of a party or the Hearing Committee.
Q. Notification of Finding
The Hearing Office shall serve a copy of the written report outlining the basis of the Hearing Committee's decision to the Medical Director, the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee imposing the Adverse Action, and the affected Provider.
R. Final Decision
Upon receipt of the Hearing Committee's decision, the Chief Medical Officer/Plan President shall either adopt or reject the Hearing Committee's decision. The Chief Medical Officer/Plan President's action constitutes the final decision.
S. Reporting
In the event the Chief Medical Officer/Plan President adopts the proposed decision of the Peer Review Committee and/or Credentialing Committee taking or recommending the Adverse Action, Molina will submit a report to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB, as required. Reports shall be made in accordance with the Credentialing Program Policy.
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Reports to the State Licensing Board and the NPDB for adverse actions must be submitted within fifteen (15) days from the date the adverse action was taken.
T. Exhaustion of Internal Remedies
If any of the above Adverse Actions are taken or recommended, the Provider must exhaust the remedies afforded by this Policy before resorting to legal action.
U. Confidentiality and Immunity
Information regarding any Provider submitted, collected, or prepared by any representative of this or any other health care facility or organization or medical staff for the purpose of evaluating, improving, achieving or maintaining quality and cost effective patient care shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, be confidential and shall only be disseminated to a Representative in order to carry out appropriate activities under these Policies and Procedures. Confidentiality shall also extend to such information that is provided by third parties.
For purposes of this section a "Representative" shall mean any individual authorized to preform specific information gathering or disseminating functions for the purpose of evaluating, improving, achieving or maintaining quality and cost effective patient care.
For purposes of this section "information" may be any written or oral disclosures including, but not limited to, a Provider's professional qualifications, clinical ability, judgment, character, physical or mental health, emotional stability, professional ethics, or any other matter that might directly or indirectly affect patient care or Provider's provision of patient care services.
By providing patient care services at Molina, a Provider: 1. Authorizes representatives of Molina to solicit, provide, and act upon information bearing
on the Provider's qualifications. 2. Agrees to be bound by the provisions of this policy and procedure and to waive all legal
claims against any representative who acts in accordance with the provisions of this policy and procedure. 3. Acknowledges that the provisions of this policy and procedure are express conditions of the application for, or acceptance of, Molina membership and the continuation of such membership, and to the exercise of clinical privileges or provision of Patient care.
The confidentiality and immunity provisions of this policy and procedure shall apply to all information so protected by State or Federal Law. To the fullest extent permitted by State or Federal Law, the confidentiality and immunity provisions of this policy and procedure shall include, but is not limited to: 1. Any type of application or reapplication received by the Provider; 2. Actions reducing, suspending, terminating or revoking a Provider's status, including
requests for corrective actions, investigation reports and documents and all other information related to such action; 3. Hearing and appellate review;
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4. Peer review and utilization and quality management activities; 5. Risk management activities and Claims review; 6. Potential or actual liability exposure issues; 7. Incident and/or investigative reports; 8. Claims review; 9. Minutes of all meetings by any committees otherwise appropriately appointed by the
Board; 10. Any activities related to monitoring the quality, appropriateness or safety of health care
services; 11. Minutes of any Committees and Subcommittees related to monitoring the quality,
appropriateness or safety of health care services; 12. Any Molina operations and actions relating to Provider conduct.
Immunity from Liability for Action Taken: No representative shall be liable to a Provider or any third party for damages or other relief for any decision, opinion, action, statement, or recommendations made within the scope of their duties as representative, if such representative acts in good faith and without malice.
Immunity from Liability for Providing Information: No representative or third parties shall be liable to a Provider for damages or other relief by reason of providing information, including otherwise privileged or confidential information, to a representative or to any third party pursuant to authorization by the Provider, or if permitted or required by Law, or these Policies and Procedures, provided that such representative or third parties acts in good faith and without malice.
Cumulative Effect: The provisions in this Policy and Procedure and any forms relating to authorizations, confidentiality of information, and immunities from liability are in addition to other protections provided by relevant State and Federal Law, and are not a limitation thereof.
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15. Facility Site Review
The facility site review (FSR) is a comprehensive evaluation of the facility, administration and medical records to ensure conformance to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and regulatory agency standards. The review and certification of Primary Care Practitioner (PCP) sites are required for all health plans participating in the Medi-Cal managed care program (Title 22, CCR, Section 56230). The California statute requires that all PCP sites or facilities rendering services to Medi-Cal eligible patients must be certified and compliant with all applicable DHCS standards. Furthermore, facility site reviews are required as part of the credentialing process, according to the provision of Title 22, CCR, Section 53856.
A PCP is defined as a General Practitioner, an Internist, a Family Practitioner, Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN) who meets the requirements for PCP, or a Pediatrician who, by contract, agrees to accept responsibility for primary medical care services.
Facility Site Review Process
Effective July 1, 2002 the State of California's Health and Human Services Agency mandated that all County Organized Health Systems (COHS), Geographic Managed Care (GMC) Plans, Primary Care Case Management (PCCM) Plans, and Two-Plan Model Plans use the Full Scope Site Review and Medical Record Review Evaluation Tool. This is found in Medi-Cal Managed Care Division (MMCD) Policy Letter 14-004and includes, but is not limited to, any relevant superseding policy letters.
In efforts to avoid duplication and overlapping of FSR reviews, the Medi-Cal managed care health plans within the county have established systems and procedures for the coordination and consolidation of site audits for mutually shared PCP sites and facilities. One (1) site review conducted by a participating collaborative Medi-Cal managed care health plan will be accepted by other Medi-Cal managed care health plans. This will establish ONE (1) certified FSR and MRR that the participating PCP site will need to pass and be eligible with all the Medi-Cal Health Plans in a given county.
Standardized DHCS Facility Site Review Tool is comprised of three (3) components: Attachment A: Facility Site Review Tool Attachment B: Medical Record Review Tool Attachment C: Physical Accessibility Review Survey
Initial Full Scope Review
All primary care sites serving Medi-Cal managed care Members must undergo an initial site review with attainment of a minimum passing score of eighty percent (80%) on the site review and medical record review. The initial site review is the first onsite inspection of a site that has not previously had a full scope survey, or a PCP site that is returning to the Medi-Cal managed care program and has not had a full scope survey within the past three (3) years with a passing
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score. The initial full scope site review survey can be waived by a managed care health plan for a pre- contracted physician site if the physician has a documented proof of current full scope survey, conducted by another Medi-Cal managed care health plan within the past three (3) years. MHC follows the same procedures as for an initial site visit when a PCP relocates or opens a new site.
Subsequent Periodic Full Scope Site Review
After the initial full scope survey, the maximum time period before conducting the subsequent full scope site survey is three (3) years. Managed care health plans may review sites more frequently per local collaborative decision or when determined necessary, based on monitoring, evaluation or corrective actions plan (CAP) follow-up issues.
Medical Record Review
The on-site Practitioner/Provider medical record review is a comprehensive evaluation of the medical records. Molina Healthcare of California (MHC) will provide information, suggestions and recommendations to assist Practitioners/Providers in achieving the standards. All PCPs must complete and pass the medical record review at each practice location. Medical Record Reviews are conducted in conjunction with the Facility Site Review, prior to participating in MHC Provider network and at least every three (3) years thereafter. Ten (10) medical records are reviewed for each physician. Sites where documentation of patient care by multiple PCPs occurs in the same medical record will be reviewed as a "shared" medical record system. Shared medical records are those that are not identifiable as "separate" records belonging to any specific PCP. A minimum of ten (10) records will be reviewed if two (2) to three (3) PCPs share records, twenty (20) records will be reviewed for four (4) to six (6) PCPs, and thirty (30) records will be reviewed for seven (7) or more PCPs.
Physical Accessibility Review Survey (PARS)
In accordance to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Medi-Cal Managed Care Division (MMCD) policy letter12-006, managed care health plans are required to assess the level of physical accessibility of Provider sites, including all primary care physicians, specialists, ancillary Providers and Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) that serve a high volume of Seniors and Persons with Disabilities (SPD). The PARS tool and guidelines are based on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). PARS consist of eighty-six (86) criteria that include twenty-nine (29) designated critical access elements. The information provided must, at a minimum, display the level of access results met per Provider site as either Basic Access or Limited Access, and Medical Equipment (and/or Participant Area) Access. Basic Access demonstrates that a facility site provides access for Members with disabilities to parking, exterior building, interior building, exam room, restrooms, and medical equipment. Unlike the Facility Site Review and Medical Records Review, PARS is an assessment and no corrective action is required.
SCORING
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All Primary Care Physicians must maintain an Exempted or Conditional pass on site review and medical record review to participate in MHC Provider network. The evaluation scores are based on standardized scoring mechanism established by DHCS.
Compliance & Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Facility Site Review Score Threshold
Exempted: A performance score of ninety percent (90%) or above without deficiencies in Critical
Elements, Pharmaceutical or Infection Control sections of the review tool A Corrective Action Plan is not required
Conditional: A performance score of eighty percent to ninety percent (80% - 90%) or ninety percent
(90%) and above with deficiencies in Critical Elements, Pharmaceutical or Infection Control sections of the review tool A Corrective Action Plan is required
Not Pass: Below eighty percent (80%) performance score
Medical Record Review Score Threshold
Exempted: A performance score of ninety to one-hundred percent (90% to 100%); any section score of
less than 80% will require a Corrective Action Plan for the entire medical records reviewed, regardless of the total score
Conditional: A performance score of eighty to eighty-nine percent (80% to 89%) A Corrective Action Plan is required
Not Pass: Below eighty percent (80%) performance score
Physicians with an Exempted Pass Score
All reviewed sites that score ninety to one-hundred percent (90% to 100%) on the facility site review survey without deficiencies in Critical Elements, Pharmaceutical or Infection Control sections of the review tool do not need to submit a CAP.
All reviewed sites that score ninety to one-hundred percent (90% to 100%) and greater than eighty percent (80%) on each section scores of the medical record review survey do not need to submit a CAP. Any section score of less than eighty percent (80%) in the medical record review survey requires submission of completed CAP, regardless of the aggregated MRR score.
Physicians with a Conditional Pass Score
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A score of eighty to eighty-nine percent (80% to 89%) or ninety percent (90%) and above with deficiencies in Critical Element, Pharmaceutical or Infection Control sections of the review tool must complete and submit a CAP. Critical Element CAP must be completed, verified and submitted within ten (10) business
days from the date of the review.
CAP must be completed and submitted within forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of the written CAP request.
A score of eighty to eighty-nine percent (80% to 89%) of the medical record review survey must complete and submit a CAP. The CAP must be submitted within forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of the review.
Physicians with a Not Pass Score
A score of seventy-nine percent (79%) or below and survey deficiencies not corrected within the established CAP timeframes will not have new Members assigned until all deficiencies are corrected and the CAP is closed. The CAP must be completed, submitted timely, fully accepted, and verified or a follow-up visit must be conducted for a focused review with a passing score.
In compliance to the Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal Managed Care Division Policy Letter 14-004, physicians and sites with Not Pass scores must be notified to all Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plans in the county.
CAP Extension
No timeline extensions are allowed for Critical Element CAP completion. A physician may request a definitive, time-specific extension period that does not exceed one-hundred-twenty (120) calendar days from the date of the survey findings report and CAP notification. The request shall be submitted through a formal written explanation of the reason(s) for the extension.
Any extension beyond one-hundred-twenty (120) calendar days requires an approval from the Department of Health Care Services and agreed upon by the health plan.
NOTE: AN EXTENSION PERIOD BEYOND ONE-HUNDRED-TWENTY (120) CALENDAR DAYS TO COMPLETE CORRECTIONS REQUIRES THAT THE SITE BE RESURVEYED PRIOR TO CLOSING THE CAP IN TWELVE (12) MONTHS.
CAP Completion
Physicians or their designees can complete the CAP: Review and correct the identified deficiencies in Column Two (2) and Column Three (3) of
the CAP form. Review and implement the recommended corrective actions in Column Four (4) of the CAP
form and provide appropriate attachments or documents that address the deficiencies.
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Enter the date of completion or implementation of the corrective action in Column Five (5) of the CAP form.
Document specific comments on implemented activities to address and satisfy the corrective action(s) and document a responsible designee's initials in Column Six (6) of the CAP form.
Document the signature and the title of the physician or the designee who is responsible for completing the CAP in Column Seven (7) of the CAP form.
Upon implementation, completion and documentation of the entire corrective action items identified on the CAP form, submit the completed CAP form.
CAP Submission
The physician, at his/her discretion, may involve any or all IPAs/Medical Groups or management companies with which the physician is contracted to assist in completion of the CAP. The CAP must be submitted directly to the Site Reviewer of the health plan.
Identification of Deficiencies Subsequent to an Initial Site Visit
Any MHC Director or Manager shall refer concerns regarding Member safety and/or quality of care issues to appropriate Department(s) for necessary follow-up activities.
Member complaints related to physical office site(s) are referred to appropriate MHC Department(s) for investigation that may include performing an unannounced facility site evaluation and subsequent follow-up of any identified corrective actions.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES (DHCS) REVIEW OF MOLINA HEALTHCARE'S PERFORMANCE OF FACILITY SITE REVIEWS
Review Process
An oversight audit of MHC and contracted physicians and facilities will be conducted by the DHCS. These visits may be conducted with or without prior notification from the DHCS.
If a prior notification is given, the sites selected by the DHCS for oversight reviews will be contacted to arrange a visit schedule by either the DHCS auditor or MHC.
MHC will provide any necessary assistance required by the DHCS in conducting facility oversight evaluations.
Requirements and Guidelines for Facility Site
Complete and comprehensive requirements, standards, and guidelines are found in Facility Site Review Tool and Facility Site Review Guideline.
Please visit MHC website at: www.MolinaHealthcare.com to review these documents.
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Requirements and Guidelines for Medical Record Documentation (applies to both adults and children)
Complete and comprehensive requirements, standards, and guidelines are found in Medical Record Review Tool and Medical Record Review Guideline.
Please visit MHC website at: www.MolinaHealthcare.com to review these documents.
Information Available to Providers on MHC Website
In efforts to assist our Providers, there are many resources and topics that are relevant to Facility Site Review and Medical Records Review processes and guidelines. Please visit MHC website to access these materials and information: Facility Site Review Tool and Guidelines Medical Record Review Tool and Guidelines Interim Review of Critical Elements at eighteen (18) months FSR Attachment C: Physical Accessibility Review Survey (PARS) Frequently used facility forms and log sheets Frequently used Medical Record forms and documentations Preventive Health Guidelines Staying Healthy Assessment forms Clinical Practice Guidelines
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16. Delegation
This section contains information specific to Molina's delegation criteria. Molina may delegate certain administrative responsibilities upon meeting all of Molina's delegation criteria. Molina is accountable for all aspects of the Member's health care delivery, even when it delegates specific responsibilities to sub-contracted entities. Molina's Delegation Oversight Committee (DOC), or other designated committee, must approve all delegation and sub-delegation arrangements.
If you have additional questions related to delegated functions, please contact your Molina Contract Manager.
Delegation Criteria
Credentialing
Credentialing functions may be delegated to entities which meet National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) criteria for credentialing functions. To be delegated for credentialing functions, Providers must: Pass Molina's credentialing pre-assessment, which is based on NCQA credentialing
standards. Have a multi-disciplinary Credentialing Committee who is responsible for review and
approval or denial/termination of practitioners included in delegation. Have an Ongoing Monitoring process in place that screens all practitioners included in
delegation against OIG, SAM, and all published State Medicaid exclusion lists a minimum of every thirty (30) days. Have a screening process in place to review all Medical Group, IPA, and/or Vendor employees and staff of all levels against OIG and SAM lists prior to hire dates, and a minimum of every thirty (30) days. Correct deficiencies within mutually agreed upon timeframes when issues of non-compliance are identified by Molina. Agree to Molina's contract terms and conditions for credentialing delegates. Submit timely and complete Credentialing delegation reports as detailed in the Delegated Services Addendum to the applicable Molina contact. Comply with all applicable Federal and State Laws. When key specialists, as defined by Molina, contracted with IPA or group terminate, provide Molina with a letter of termination according to Contractual Agreements and the information necessary to notify affected Members.
Note: If the Provider is an NCQA Certified or Accredited organization, a modified preassessment audit may be conducted. Modification to the audit depend on the type of Certification or Accreditation the Medical Group, IPA, or Vendor has, but will always include evaluation of applicable state requirements and Molina business needs.
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If the Provider sub-delegates Credentialing functions, the sub-delegate must be NCQA accredited or certified in Credentialing functions, or demonstrate and ability to meet all Health Plan, NCQA, and State and Federal requirements identified above. A written request must be made to Molina prior to execution of a contract, and a pre-assessment must be made on the potential sub-delegate, and annually thereafter. Evaluation should include review of Credentialing policies and procedures, Credentialing and Recredentialing files, and a process to implement corrective action if issues of noncompliance are identified.
An entity may request Credentialing delegation from Molina through Molina's Delegation Oversight Manager or through their Contract Manager. Molina will ask the potential delegate to submit policies and procedures for review and will schedule an appointment for pre-assessment. The results of the pre-assessment are submitted to the Delegation Oversight Committee (DOC) for review and approval. Final decision to delegate Credentialing responsibilities is based on the entity's ability to meet Molina, State and Federal requirements for delegation.
Delegation Reporting Requirements
Delegated entities contracted with Molina must submit monthly and quarterly reports determined by the function(s) delegated to the identified Molina Delegation Oversight Staff within the timeline indicated by the Health Plan. For a copy of Molina's current delegation reporting requirements, please contact your Molina Contract Manager.
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17. Member Grievances and Appeals
Molina Members have the right to file and submit a grievance and/or appeal through a formal process. Members may elect a personal representative or a Provider to file the grievance or appeal on their behalf.
Complaints, Grievances and Appeals Process
1. Complaints may be either grievances or appeals or both and may be processed under one or both procedures. The Appeals and Grievance Form can be completed by the Member or representative when filing and submitting a grievance or appeal.
Each issue is adjudicated separately. Complaints or disputes involving organization determinations are processed as appeals. All other issues are processed as grievances. General guidelines that are used to determine the category of the complaint are: The grievance process will be used for complaints concerning disenrollment, cost
sharing, changes in premiums, and access to a Provider or Molina; Changes in Provider availability to a specific Member will be considered an
organization determination. The QIO process is used for complaints regarding quality of medical care.
2. Grievances Grievance procedures are as follows: Molina will accept any information or evidence concerning the grievance orally or in writing not later than sixty (60) days after the event and will thoroughly investigate, track and process the grievance within thirty (30) days unless an extension is granted; If Molina extends the time necessary or refuses to grant an organization determination or reconsideration Molina will respond to the Member within twentyfour (24) hours; and, Complaints concerning the timely receipt of services already provided are considered grievances.
Quality of Care Molina Members have a right file a complaint regarding the care provided. Molina must respond to all Quality of Care complaints in writing to the Member. Molina monitors, manages, and improves the quality of clinical care and services received by its Members by investigating all issues including Serious Adverse Events, Hospital Acquired Conditions and Never Events. Members may also file care complaints with the State's contracted and CMS assigned Quality Improvement Organization.
3. Organization Determination
Organization Determinations are any determinations (an approval, modification or denial) made by Molina regarding payment or services to which a Member believes he/she is entitled such as
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temporarily out-of-area renal dialysis services, emergency services, post-stabilization care, or urgently needed services.
Molina's Utilization Management Department handles organization determination. Organization Determination is discussed in the Healthcare Services section of this Provider Manual. Any party to an organizational determination, e.g., a Member, a Member's representative or a noncontracted Provider, or a termination of services decision, may request that the determination be reconsidered.
Organization determinations are either standard or expedited depending on the urgency of the member's request.
Definition of Key Terms used in the Molina Healthcare Grievance and Appeal Process
The definitions that follow will clarify terms used by Molina for Member appeals and grievances. Following the definitions is a brief discussion of Molina grievance and appeal processes. Any questions on these polices should be directed to your Provider Services Representative.
Appeal
Assignee Complaint
Coverage Determination:
Any of the procedures that deal with the review of adverse organization determinations on the health care services a Member believes he or she is entitled to receive, including delay in providing, arranging for, or approving the health care services (such that a delay would adversely affect the health of the Member), or on any amounts the Member must pay for a service as defined in 42 CFR 422.566(b). These procedures include reconsideration by Molina and if necessary, an independent review entity, hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), review by the Medicare Appeals Council (MAC), and judicial review. A non-contracted Provider who has furnished a service to the Member and formally agrees to waive any right to payment from the Member for that service. Any expression of dissatisfaction to Molina, Provider, facility or Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) by a Member made orally or in writing. This can include concerns about the operations of Providers or Molina such as: waiting times, the demeanor of health care personnel, the adequacy of facilities, the respect paid to Members, the claims regarding the right of the Member to receive services or receive payment for services previously rendered. It also includes a plan's refusal to provide services to which the Member believes he or she is entitled. A complaint could be either a grievance or an appeal, or a single complaint could include elements of both. Every complaint must be handled under the appropriate grievance and/or appeal process. A written denial notice by Molina that states the specific reasons for the denial and informs the Member of his or her right to reconsideration. The notice describes both the standard and expedited appeals processes and the
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Denial Notices Effectuation Member Independent Review Entity Inquiry Medicare Plan Organization Determination
Quality Improvement Organization (QIO)
Quality of Care Issue
rest of the appeals process. For payment denials, the notice describes the standard redetermination process and the rest of the appeals process. Compliance with a reversal of Molina original adverse organization determination. Compliance may entail payment of a claim, authorization for a service, or provision of services. A Medicare-eligible individual who has elected a Medicare plan offered by a Medicare Advantage organization, or a Medicare eligible individual who has elected a cost plan or HCPP. An independent entity contracted by CMS to review Molina's adverse reconsiderations of organization determinations. Any oral or written request to Molina, Provider, or facility, without an expression of dissatisfaction, e.g., a request for information or action by a Member. A plan defined in 42 CFR. 422.2 and described at 422.4. Any determination made by Molina with respect to any of the following: Payment for temporarily out of the area renal dialysis services,
emergency services, post-stabilization care, or urgently needed services; Payment for any other health services furnished by a Provider other than
a Molina Medicare Provider that the Member believes are covered under Medicare, or, if not covered under Medicare, should have been furnished, arranged for, or reimbursed by Molina; Molina's refusal to provide or pay for services, in whole or in part, including the type or level of services, that the Member believes should be furnished or arranged for by the Medicare health plan; Discontinuation of a service if the Member believes that continuation of the services is medically necessary; and/or, Failure of Molina to approve, furnish, arrange for, or provide payment for health care services in a timely manner, or to provide the Member with timely notice of an adverse determination, such that a delay would adversely affect the health of the Member. Organizations comprised of practicing doctors and other health care experts under contract to the Federal government to monitor and improve the care given to Medicare Members. QIOs review complaints raised by Members about the quality of care provided by Providers, inpatient hospitals, hospital outpatient departments, hospital emergency rooms, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, Molina, and ambulatory surgical centers. The QIOs also review continued stay denials for Members receiving care in acute inpatient hospital facilities as well as coverage terminations in SNFs, HHAs and CORFs. A quality of care complaint may be filed through the Molina grievance process and/or a QIO. A QIO must determine whether the quality of services (including both inpatient and outpatient services) provided by Molina meets professionally recognized standards of health care, including whether appropriate health care services have been provided and whether services have been provided in appropriate settings.
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Reconsideration Representative
A Member's first step in the appeal process after an adverse organization determination; Molina or independent review entity may reevaluate an adverse organization determination, the findings upon which it was based, and any other evidence submitted or obtained. An individual appointed by a Member or other party, or authorized under State or other applicable Law, to act on behalf of a Member or other party involved in the appeal. Unless otherwise stated, the representative will have all of the rights and responsibilities of a Member or party in obtaining an organization determination or in dealing with any of the levels of the appeals process, subject to the applicable rules described in 42 CFR part 405.
Important Information about Member Appeal Rights
For information about Members' appeal rights, call the Molina Member Service Department, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., toll free at (855) 665-4627 or 711 for persons with hearing impairments (TTY/TDD).
Below is information for Molina Members regarding their appeal rights. A detailed explanation of the appeal process is included in the Member's Evidence of Coverage (EOC) that has been provided to them. If Members have additional questions, please refer them to Molina Member Services.
There Are Two (2) Kinds of Appeals You Can File: Standard Appeal Thirty (30) days You can ask for a standard appeal. Your plan must give you a decision no later than thirty (30) days after it gets your appeal. Your plan may extend this time by up to fourteen (14) days if you request an extension, or if it needs additional information and the extension benefits you.
What do I include with my Appeal?
You should include your name, address, Member ID number, reason for appealing and any evidence you wish to attach. You may send in supporting medical records, Provider's letter(s), or other information that explains why your plan should provide service. Call your Provider if you need this information to help with your appeals.
Expedited Seventy-two (72) hour review You can request for an/expedited appeal if you or your doctor believe that your health could be seriously harmed by waiting too long for a decision. Your plan must decide an expedited appeal no later than seventy-two (72) hours after it receives your appeal. Your plan may extend this time by up to fourteen (14) days if you request an extension, or if it needs additional information and the extension benefits you.
How do I file an Appeal?
For Standard Appeal: you or your authorized representative can mail or deliver your written appeal to Molina Medicare at: Molina Medicare Attn: Grievance and Appeals P.O. Box 22816 Long Beach, CA 90801-9977
Hours of Operation:
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If any Provider asks for a fast appeal for you, or supports you in asking for one, and the Provider indicates that waiting for thirty (30) days could seriously harm your health, your plan will automatically give you a fast appeal. If you ask for a fast appeal without support from your Provider, your plan will decide if your health requires a fast appeal. If your plan does not give you a fast appeal, your plan will decide your appeal in thirty (30) days
Monday through Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
To file an oral appeal call us toll free: (855) 665-4627/ TTY number: 711
Fax Number (not toll free): (562) 499-0603
Other resources: Medicare Rights Center: Toll free: (888) HMO-9050
Toll free: (800) MEDICARE -(800)-6334227)
To file an oral grievance call us toll free: (855) 665-4627/TTY number: 711
Fax Number (not toll free): (562) 499-0603
Other resources: Medicare Rights Center: Toll free: (888) HMO-9050
Toll free: (800) MEDICARE (800) 633-4227 If you think you have been treated unfairly due to your race, color, national origin, disability, age, or religion, you can call the Office for Civil Rights toll free at (800) 3681019 or TTY/TDD (800) 537-7697, or call your local Office for Civil Rights.
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18. Medicare Part D
A Part D coverage determination is a decision about whether to provide or pay for a Part D drug, a decision concerning a tiering exception request, a formulary exception request, a decision on the amount of cost sharing for a drug, or whether a Member has or has not satisfied a prior authorization or other UM requirement.
Any party to a coverage determination, (e.g., a Member, a Member's representative, or a Member's prescriber) may request that the determination be appealed. A Member, a Member's representative, or Provider, are the only parties who may request that Molina expedite a coverage determination or redetermination.
Coverage determinations are either standard or expedited depending on the urgency of the Member's request.
Appeals/Redeterminations
When a Member's request for a coverage determination is denied, Members may choose someone (including an attorney or Provider) to serve as their personal representative to act on their behalf. After the date of the denial, a Member has up to sixty (60) days to request a redetermination. This is the first level of appeal for Part D adverse decisions. Appeal data is confidential.
The redetermination request will be responded to within seven (7) days. If an expedited appeal is required for an emergent situation, then the decision will be made within seventy- two (72) hours of the request.
At any time during the appeal process, the Member or personal representative may submit written comments, papers or other data about the appeal in person or in writing. If the appeal/reconsideration is denied, the Member has the right to send the appeal to the Independent Review Entity (IRE) within sixty (60) days of receipt of the appeal. The IRE has seven (7) days to make a decision for a standard appeal/reconsideration and seventy-two (72) hours for an expedited request. The IRE will notify Molina and the Member of the decision. When an expedited review is requested, the IRE will make a decision within seventy-two (72) hours.
If the IRE changes the Molina decision, authorization for service must be made within seventytwo (72) hours for standard appeals and within twenty-four (24) hours for expedited appeals.
Payment appeals must be paid within thirty (30) days from the date the plan receives notice of the reversal.
If the IRE upholds Molina's denial they will inform the Member of their right to a hearing with the ALJ and will describe the procedures that must be followed to obtain an ALJ hearing.
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CMS's IRE monitors Molina's compliance with determinations to decisions that fully or partially reverse an original Molina denial. The IRE is currently Maximums Federal Services, Inc.
For Medicaid drugs, you have ninety (90) days from the date on the Notice of Action to file an appeal with Molina. You may file an appeal in person, in writing, by e-mail, fax, TTY, or telephone. All levels of the appeal procedures will be completed in thirty (30) calendar days. At any time within ninety (90) days of the date on the Notice of Action, you may request a State Fair Hearing by contacting the California Department of Social Services.
Part D Prescription Drug Exception Policy
CMS defines a coverage determination as the first decision made by a plan regarding the prescription drug benefits a Member is entitled to receive under the plan, including a decision not to provide or pay for a Part D drug, a decision concerning an exception request, and a decision on the amount of cost sharing for a drug.
An exception request is a type of coverage determination request. Through the exceptions process, a Member can request an off-formulary drug, an exception to the plan's tiered cost sharing structure, and an exception to the application of a cost UM tool (e.g., step therapy requirement, dose restriction, or prior authorization requirement).
Molina is committed to providing access to medically necessary prescription drugs to Members of Molina. If a drug is prescribed that is not on Molina's formulary, the Member or Member's representative may file for an exception. All exceptions and appeals are handled at the plan level (on-site) and are not delegated to another entity. Please see below for contact information by plan for personnel who handle the exceptions. Members or the Member's representatives (who can include Providers and pharmacists) may call, write, fax, or e-mail Molina's exception contact person to request an exception. Procedures and forms to apply for an exception may be obtained from the contact persons.
Part D Exceptions and Appeals Contact Information: call toll free Molina at (855) 665-4627 or fax (866) 290-1309.
The Policy and Procedure for Exceptions and Appeals will be reviewed by a Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee on an annual basis at minimum. Exception / Prior Authorization criteria are also reviewed and approved by a P&T Committee.
1. Formulary - A formulary is a list of medications selected by Molina in consultation with a team of health care Providers, which represents the prescription therapies believed to be a necessary part of a quality treatment program. Molina will generally cover the drugs listed in our formulary as long as the drug is medically necessary, the prescription is filled at a Molina network pharmacy and other plan rules are followed.
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Formularies may be different depending on the Molina Medicare Plan and will change over time. Current formularies for all products may be downloaded from our Website atwww.MolinaHealthcare.com.
2. Copayments for Part D - The amount a patient pays depends on which drug tier the drug is in under the plan and whether the patient fills the prescription at a preferred network pharmacy. Most Part D services have a co-payment; Co-payments cannot be waived by Molina per the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; and, Co-payments for Molina may differ by State and plan.
2018 Drug Tier for Molina Healthcare of California Tier 1 Preferred Generic Drugs Tier 2 Generic Tier 3 Preferred Brand Drugs Tier 4 Non-Preferred Drugs Tier 5 Specialty Drugs
2018 Options Plus (HMO SNP) Special Needs Plan* $0 $3.70 $0 $3.40 $0 $8.35 $0 $8.35 $0 $8.35
*Please note: At CMS's discretion, co-payments and/or benefit design may change at the beginning of the next contract year and each year thereafter.
3. Restrictions on Molina Medicare Drug Coverage
Some covered drugs may have additional requirements or limits on coverage. These requirements and limits may include: Prior Authorization: Molina requires prior authorization for certain drugs, some of
which are on the formulary and also drugs that are not on the formulary. Without prior approval, Molina may not cover the drug; Quantity Limits: For certain drugs, Molina limits the amount of the drug that it will cover; Step Therapy: In some cases, Molina requires patients to first try certain drugs to treat a medical condition before it will cover another drug for that condition. For example, if Drug A and Drug B both treat a medical condition, Molina may not cover drug B unless drug A is tried first; and/or Part B Medications: Certain medications and/or dosage forms listed in this formulary may be available on Medicare Part B coverage depending upon the place of service and method of administration.
4. Non-Covered Molina Medicare Medi-Cal Program/Cal MediConnect Part D Drugs: Agents when used for anorexia, weight loss, or weight gain (no mention of medically necessary); Agents when used to promote fertility;
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Agents used for cosmetic purposes or hair growth; Prescription vitamins and minerals, except those used for prenatal care and fluoride
preparations; Non-prescription drugs, except those medications listed as part of Molina's Medicare
over-the-counter (OTC) monthly benefit as applicable and depending on the plan; Outpatient drugs for which the manufacturer seeks to require that associated tests or
monitoring services be purchased exclusively from the manufacturer or its designee as a condition of sale; Molina Members with Medicaid coverage may have a limited selection of these excluded medications as part of its Medicaid coverage for Members assigned to Molina Medicaid. Prescriptions that are not being used for a medically accepted indication (i.e., prescriptions must either be FDA-approved or compendia supported for the diagnosis for which they are being used; the Medicare-approved compendia are American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information (AHFS) and DRUGDEX® Information System).
5. There may be differences between the Medicare and Medicaid Formularies. The Molina Formulary includes many injectable drugs not typically found in its Medicaid formularies such as those for the aged, blind and disabled.
6. Requesting a Molina Medicare Formulary Exception - Molina product drug prior authorizations are called Exceptions, which are required when your patient needs a drug that is not on the Formulary. A Member, a Member's appointed representative or a Member's prescribing Provider are permitted to file an Exception. (The process for filing an exception is predominantly a fax based system.) The form for exception requests is available on the Molina website: www.MolinaHealthcare.com.
7. Requesting a Molina Formulary Redetermination (Appeal) - The appeal process involves an adverse determination regarding Molina issuing a denial for a requested drug or claim payment. If the Member received a Notice of Denial of Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage and disagrees with the decision rendered, he/she may request a redetermination (appeal) from Molina by completing the appeal form sent with the Notice of Denial.
A Member, a Member's appointed representative or a Member's prescribing Provider (for expedited appeals) may complete the appeal form and submit any information which may help Molina with the processing of the appeal. An appeal must be submitted in writing and filed within sixty (60) calendar days from the date that the determination was rendered. A standard appeal may be submitted to Molina in writing or can be taken over the
telephone. The appeal will be reviewed upon receipt and the Member will be notified in writing within seven (7) calendar days from the date the request for redetermination is received.
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An expedited appeal can be requested orally or in writing by the Member or by a Provider acting on behalf of the Member. An expedited appeal may be requested in situations where applying the standard time frame could seriously jeopardize the Member's life, health or ability to regain maximum function. If a Provider supports the request for an expedited appeal, Molina will honor this request.
If a Member submits an appeal without Provider support, Molina will review the request to determine if it meets Medicare's criteria for expedited processing. If the plan determines that the request meets the expedited criteria, Molina will render a decision as expeditiously as the Member's health requires, but not exceeding seventytwo (72) hours. If the request does not meet the expedited criteria, Molina will render a coverage decision within the standard redetermination time frame of seven (7) calendar days.
To submit a verbal request, please call toll free (855) 665-4627. Written appeals must be mailed or faxed toll free (866) 290-1309.
8. Initiating a Part D Exception (Prior Authorization) Request - Molina will accept requests from Providers or a pharmacy on the behalf of the Member either by a written or verbal request. The request may be communicated through the standardized Molina Medication Prior Authorization Request Form or through telephone via fax and telephone lines. All requests will be determined and communicated to the Member and the Member's prescribing Provider with an approval or denial decision within seventy-two (72) hours/three (3) calendar days after Molina receives the completed request. All initial requests for Medicaid drugs will be reviewed within twenty-four (24) hours.
Molina will request submission of additional information if a request is deemed incomplete for a determination decision. All requests may be approved by: 1) Molina Pharmacy Technician under the supervision of a pharmacist; 2) Molina Pharmacist; or, 3) Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Molina. Review criteria will be made available at the request of the Member or his/her prescribing Provider. Molina will determine whether a specific off-label use is a medically accepted indication based on the following criteria: a. A prescription drug is a Part D drug only if it is for a medically accepted
indication, which is supported by one or more citations included or approved for inclusion with the following compendia: American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information; and, DRUGDEX Information System. b. Requests for off-label use of medications will need to be accompanied with excerpts from one (1) of the two (2) CMS-required compendia for consideration. The submitted excerpts must site a favorable recommendation. c. Depending upon the prescribed medication, Molina may request the prescribing Provider to document and justify off-label use in clinical records and provide information such as diagnostic reports, chart notes, and medical summaries.
Denial decisions are only given to the Member or Member's representative by a Pharmacist or CMO of Molina. The written denial notice to the Member (and the
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prescriber involved) includes the specific rationale for denial; the explanation of both the standard and expedited appeals process; and, an explanation of a Member's right to, and conditions for, obtaining an expedited an appeals process.
If Molina denies coverage of the prescribed medication, Molina will give the Member a written notice within seventy-two (72) hours explaining the reason for the denial and how to initiate the appeals process. If no written notice is given to the Member within the specified timeframe, Molina will start the next level of appeal by sending the Coverage Determination request to the IRE within twentyfour (24) hours.
Denial decisions are only given to the Member or Member's representative by a Pharmacist or CMO of Molina. The written denial notice to the Member (and the prescriber involved) includes the specific rationale for denial; the explanation of both the standard and expedited appeals process; and an explanation of a Member's right to, and conditions for, obtaining an expedited an appeals process.
If Molina denies coverage of the prescribed medication, Molina will give the Member a written notice within seventy-two (72) hours explaining the reason for the denial and how to initiate the appeals process. If no written notice is given to the Member within the specified timeframe, Molina will start the next level of appeal by sending the Coverage Determination request to the Independent Review Entity (IRE) within twenty-four (24) hours.
If a coverage determination is expedited, Molina will notify the Member of the coverage determination decision within the twenty-four (24) hour timeframe by telephone and mail the Member a written Expedited Coverage Determination within three (3) calendar days of the oral notification. If Molina does not give the Member a written notification within the specified timeframe, Molina will start the next level of appeal by sending the Coverage Determination request to the Independent Review Entity (IRE) within twenty-four (24) hours.
9. Initiating a Part D Appeal - If Molina's initial coverage determination is unfavorable, a Member may request a first level of appeal, or re-determination within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the notice of the coverage determination. In a Standard Appeal Molina has up to seven (7) days to make the re-determination, whether favorable or adverse, and notify the Member in writing within seven (7) calendar days from the date the request for re-determination is received. Members or a Member's prescribing Provider may request Molina to expedite a redetermination if the standard appeal timeframe of seven (7) days may seriously jeopardize the Member's life, health, or ability to regain maximum function. Molina has up to seventy-two (72) hours to make the redetermination, whether favorable or adverse, and notify the Member in writing within seventy-two (72) hours after receiving the request for re- determination. If additional information is needed for Molina to make a re- determination, Molina will request the necessary information within twenty- four (24) hours of the initial request for an
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expedited re-determination. Molina will inform the Member and prescribing Provider of the conditions for submitting the evidence since the timeframe is limited on expedited cases.
10. The Part D Independent Review Entity (IRE) - If the re-determination is unfavorable, a Member may request reconsideration by the IRE. The Part D Qualified Independent Contractor (IRE) is currently MAXIMUS Federal, a CMS contractor that provides second level appeals. Standard Appeal: The IRE has up to seven (7) days to make the decision. Expedited Appeal: The IRE has up to seventy-two (72) hours for to make the decision. Administrative Law Judge (ALJ): If the IRE's reconsideration is unfavorable, a Member may request a hearing with an ALJ if the amount in controversy requirement is satisfied. Note: Regulatory timeframe is not applicable on this level of appeal. Medicare Appeals Council (MAC): If the ALJ's finding is unfavorable, the Member may appeal to the MAC, an entity within the Department of Health and Human Services that reviews ALJ's decisions. Note: Regulatory timeframe is not applicable on this level of appeal. Federal District Court (FDC) - If the MAC's decision is unfavorable, the Member may appeal to a Federal district court, if the amount in controversy requirement is satisfied. Note: Regulatory timeframe is not applicable on this level of appeal.
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19. Risk Adjustment Management Program
Background
Risk Adjustment is the process used by CMS to adjust the payment made to Medicare Advantage organizations based on the health status and demographics (age and gender) of the Member. Diagnosis data collected from encounter and claim data is submitted to CMS for risk adjustment purposes.
Medical Record Documentation
Medical records play a vital role in the risk adjustment process because: i. They are a valuable source of diagnosis data; ii. They help determine the ICD-10 codes that should be used; and, iii. They ensure that diagnosis data submitted to CMS is accurate.
Therefore, medical records need to be accurate, through and complete. Therefore, medical records should: Use the correct ICD-10 code by coding the condition to the highest level of specificity; Only submit codes for which the Provider is certain the Member has; Contain a treatment plan; Be clear and concise; Contain the Member's name and date of service; and, Contain the physician's signature and credentials.
Furthermore, complete and accurate documentation allows for more meaningful and complete data exchanges between Providers and Molina to effectively manage the care of the Member because they will help: Identify potential problems/care management needs. Match health care needs with the appropriate level of care. Improve communication among the Member's health care team. Improve the overall Member health care evaluation process. Provide a clear and accurate picture of our Member's health status.
RADV Audits
Part of the Risk Adjustment process includes CMS conducting Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) audits to ensure that diagnosis data that was previously submitted by Molina was accurate for risk adjustment purposes. Therefore, all claims/encounters submitted to Molina are subject to federal audit or auditing by Molina. If Molina is selected for a RADV audit, Provider will be required to submit medical records to validate the data previously submitted.
Contact Information
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Title AVP, Risk Adjustment Director, Risk Adjustment Analytics Director, Risk Adjustment Operations Director, Risk Adjustment Auditing
Telephone (888) 562-5442, Ext. 118300 (888) 562-5442, Ext. 115014 (888) 562-5442, Ext. 177922 (888) 562-5442, Ext. 115596
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20. Glossary
Term Appeal
Abuse
Case Management
Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) Claim CMS Co-insurance
Co-payment or Co-pay Deductible Disenroll Division of Financial Responsibility (DOFR) Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Eligibility List Emergency Services/Care Encounter Data
Definition A review by the MCP of an Adverse Benefit Determination that involves the delay, modification, or denial of services based on medical necessity, or a determination that the requested service was not a covered benefit. Practices that are inconsistent with sound fiscal, business, or medical practices, that result in an unnecessary cost to the government program or in reimbursement for services that are not medically necessary, or fail to meet professionally recognized standards for healthcare. A collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to accommodate the specific health services needed by an individual. Licensed Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) Centers provide health and social services as an alternative to institutionalization and a safe and therapeutic environment for adult MHC Members with eligible conditions. A request for payment for the provision of Covered Services prepared on a CMS1500 form, UB92, or successor. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services The amount a Member pays for medical services after the deductible is paid. Coinsurance amounts are usually percentages of approved amounts. The amount a Member pays for medical services such as a Provider's visit or prescription. The amount a Member pays for health care or prescriptions, before the health plan begins to pay. Ending healthcare coverage with a health plan. A document whereby health plans assign the payment risk for any contract, dividing payment responsibilities among the plan itself, the contracted hospital, or a Medical Group/IPA. Purchased or rented items such as hospital beds, iron lungs, oxygen equipment, seat lift equipment, wheelchairs, and other medically necessary equipment prescribed by a health care Provider to be used in a patient's home. A list of Members that are assigned to Primary Care Providers (PCP) through a Medical Group, IPA or Staff Model Organization. Care given for a medical emergency when a Member believes that his/her health is in serious danger when every second counts. Claims data for services rendered to Members who are assigned to a PCPs through a capitated Medical Group or IPA, or Staff Model Organization.
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Term Enrollment EOB Experimental Formulary Fraud
Grievance Health Maintenance Organization Plan
Home Health Agency
Hospice Services In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Institution
IPA (Independent Practice Association) Long-Term Service and Support (LTSS)
Managed Care
Definition The process by which an eligible person becomes a Member of a managed care plan. Explanation of Benefits Items and procedures determined by Medicare not to be generally accepted by the medical community. A list of certain prescription drugs that the health plan will cover subject to limits and conditions. Intentional deception or misrepresentation made by a person with the knowledge that the deception could result in some unauthorized benefit to oneself or some other person. This includes any act that constitutes fraud under applicable Federal or State law. A complaint about the way a Medicare health plan is giving care. A type of Medicare Plan that is available in some areas of the country. Plans must cover all Medicare Part A and Part B health care. Some HMOs cover extra benefits, like extra days in the hospital. In most HMOs, you can only go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals on the plan's list except in an emergency. HMO costs may be lower than in the Original Medicare Plan. An organization that gives home care services, like skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and personal care by home health aides. Hospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill, and for their family. This care includes physical care and counseling. A California program that provides in-home care for Members who cannot safely remain in their own homes without assistance. A facility that meets Medicare's definition of a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home or skilled nursing facility. Assisted or adult living facilities, or residential homes, are not included. An IPA is an association of Providers and other health care Providers, including hospitals, who contract with HMOs to provide services to the HMO Members, but usually also see non-HMO patients. A variety of services that help people with health or personal needs and activities of daily living over a period of time. Long-term service and support can be provided at home, in the community, or in various types of facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Most long-term care is custodial care. Medicare does not pay for this type of care if this is the only care needed. A variety of services that help people with health or personal needs and activities of daily living over a period of time. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, or in various types of facilities, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Most
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Term
Medicaid
Medically Necessary
Member Multi-Purpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) Network Participating Provider
Primary Care Provider (PCP)
Quality Improvement (QI) Risk Adjustment
Service Area
Skilled Nursing Care TTY
Definition long-term care is custodial care. Medicare does not pay for this type of care if this is the only care needed. A joint Federal and State program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most healthcare costs are covered if a Member qualifies for both Medicare and Medicaid. Refers to a covered service or treatment that is absolutely necessary to protect and enhance the health status of a patient, and could adversely affect the patient's condition if omitted, in accordance with accepted standards of medical practice. A Medicare-eligible individual who is eligible and enrolled in a Molina Medicare health plan. A program that provides social and health care management for frail elders who are eligible for placement in a nursing facility but who wish to remain in the community. A group of doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare experts hired by a health plan to take care of its Members. Participating Providers agree to accept a pre-established approved amount as payment in full for service. Provider is used as a global term to include all types of Providers A Provider (usually a physician, physician group practice, or an entity employing or having other arrangements with such physicians, but sometimes also including nurse Providers, nurse midwives, or physician assistants) who manages, coordinates, and monitors covered primary care (and sometimes additional services). Program provides structure and outlines specific activities designed to improve the care, service and health of Molina Medicare Members. Payment methodology designed to pay appropriate premiums for each Molina Medicare Member. CMS bases its premium payment according to the health status of each Member. The area where a health plan accepts Members. For plans that require participating doctors and hospitals to be used, it is also the area where services are provided. The plan may disenroll Members who move out of the plans service area. A facility with licensed, clinical staff and equipment which provide skilled care and services. A teletypewriter (TTY) is a communication device used by people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have severe speech impairment. A TTY consists of a keyboard, display screen, and modem. Messages travel over regular telephone lines. People who don't have a TTY can communicate with a TTY user through a message relay center
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Term Urgently Needed Services
Waste
Definition (MRC). An MRC has TTY operators available to send and interpret TTY messages. Immediate care for a sudden illness or injury that is not life threatening. PCPs generally provide urgently needed care if the Member is in a Medicare health plan other than the Original Medicare Plan. If a Member is out of the plan's service area for a short time and cannot wait until they return home, the health plan must pay for urgently needed care. Health care spending that can be eliminated without reducing the quality of care. Quality Waste includes, overuse, underuse, and ineffective use. Inefficiency Waste includes redundancy, delays, and unnecessary process complexity. For example: the attempt to obtain reimbursement for items or services where there was no intent to deceive or misrepresent, however the outcome of poor or inefficient billing methods (e.g., coding) causes unnecessary costs to the Medicaid/Medicare programs.
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