ValueOptions company signs contract with the Commonweath of Massachusettes

The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership (MBHP), a ValueOptions company, recently signed a five-year contract with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide integrated physical and behavioral health programs, management support services and behavioral health specialty services for the MassHealth Primary Care Clinician (PCC) Plan. The new contract started October 1, 2012, and MBHP estimates the annual value of the contract at $525 million.

The contract signing is the culmination of a competitive bidding process that began in May 2011. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services issued a request for responses seeking a program to provide integrated, comprehensive physical and behavioral health services to more than 400,000 people enrolled in the MassHealth PCC Plan. It also sought an entity to provide management support services to the primary care clinicians treating these members.

MBHP's winning program includes new emphasis on engaging members in their own health care and in promoting integration of physical and behavioral health services. Highlights include a new Member Engagement Center, Health Needs Assessment for members, Nurse Advice Line, Integrated Care Management Program and enhanced network management activities with both primary care and behavioral health providers. These new initiatives set out to improve care and member outcomes while reducing health care costs.

"We are thrilled to have finalized our agreement with the Commonwealth," said Nancy Lane, MBHP Chief Executive Officer.  "Over the years, MBHP has worked in partnership with Commonwealth agencies, providers, and the people we serve to build innovative, recovery-oriented approaches to behavioral health. We look forward to this exciting new chapter as we expand our service offerings to the Commonwealth and to members of the PCC Plan, with a new focus on integrated care and member engagement."