CeltiCare Bridge Program Updates
The state has published 2 administrative bulletins related to the CeltiCare Comm Care Bridge program (the health insurance program for the Legal Immigrants formerly on Commonwealth Care who, due to budget cuts, now receive a reduced benefit):
1) The Connector bulletin explains the general eligibility and operational rules for the Bridge program - http://mahealthcaretrainingforum.ehs.state.ma.us/uploadedFiles/MassHealth_Training_Forum/2009Nov13_CommonwealthCareBridgeAdministrative%20Bulletin%2001-09.pdf
2) The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy bulletin details the Health Safety Net's interaction with the Bridge program (unfortunately this bulletin seems no longer available on the website)
The bulletins expire on June 30, 2010, because the state has funded this program only through the end of this state fiscal year. There will need to be a new budget appropriation to continue this program beyond June 2010.
The one new development not previously reported is that the $50 copay on brand name prescriptions will not be imposed on drugs for which there is no generic equivalent. The state has agreed to release a list of conditions with drugs on that list, but it's not yet available. The pharmacy system will be programmed to reflect this change, so that pharmacists should see a “zero copay” on these particular drugs for CeltiCare Bridge members.
Please note the last section of the Connector bulletin on "disenrollment." It's important to remind patients that if they become disenrolled for failure to pay premiums, or by voluntarily requesting disenrollment, they will NOT be able to get back onto the program, nor will they be eligible for Health Safety Net.
This information has been posted on the staff access area of our website.
-From “ CeltiCare Bridge – updates”, e-mail from Kim Simonian, MPH, Associate Director, Patient Access, Partners HealthCare Community Benefit Programs, November 16, 2009.
11/09