Health

HEALTH • Winter 2018 21 New MassHealth system brings agencies together and a nurse, and to denser communi- ties in the eastern part of the state where there are diverse populations and far more competitors. Fallon recently purchased a mobile health clinic for the Berkshires that it'll run next year to help those farther from the region's only full-service hospital. "They're all very different models in how they operate," Nickey said of the various regions. Fallon was already familiar with Reliant, but it also coordinates closely with its other accountable care organi- zation partners, Nickey said. "It's just a learning curve, but I do weekly calls with our ACO's checking in," he said. MassHealth has also created a com- munity partners program in which accountable care organizations work with local agencies to handle more significant cases, such as behavioral health. The community partners began operating in the new MassHealth system in July. The Central Community Health Partnership is paired with nine of the state's 17 accountable care organiza- tions, or ACOs, to coordinate care for cases that need extra attention. In Central Massachusetts, a network called the Central Community Health Partnership has been assembled for behavioral health needs that consists of Open Sky Community Services, AdCare, LUK Inc., and Venture Community Services. There's also a long-term services and supports team to help those with physical or intellectual disabilities. That team also includes Open Sky, LUK Inc., and Venture Community Services, along with two others, Elder Services of Worcester Area and the Center for Living & Working. Between those groups — behavior- al health and long-term care, which helps with independent living — the Central Community Health Partnership has 2,500 patients. "We know them," said Ken Bates, the president and CEO of Open Sky. "We know who their families are." The objective at community part- ners programs is to get providers together to organize care, which can include figuring out public transpor- tation or even joining patients in doc- tor's visits to make sure the right questions are being asked or that the patient understands a doctor's advice. "We're still learning," said Allison Bernier, the vice president of the Central Community Health Partnership. "e ACOs are still learning. We're all still learning together." Bates credited the state for getting local partners involved who often already work to help the same popula- tion with the new MassHealth system. "The state really did it right," he said. A new MassHealth progam with 17 accountable care organizations began this year. Several, in bold, include Worcester firms. • Atrius Health with Tufts Health Public Plans • Baystate Health Care Alliance with Health New England • Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization with Tufts Health Public Plans • Boston Accountable Care Organization with Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan • Cambridge Health Alliance with Tufts Health Public Plans • Children's Hospital Integrated Care Organization with Tufts Health Public Plans • Community Care Cooperative, an organization of 13 federally qualified health centers, including Kennedy Community Health Center • Health Collaborative of the Berkshires with Fallon Community Health Plan • Lahey Health • Mercy Health Accountable Care Organization with Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan • Merrimack Valley ACO with Neighborhood Health Plan • Partners HealthCare ACO • Reliant Medical Group with Fallon Community Health Plan • Signature Healthcare Corporation with Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan • Southcoast Health Network with Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan • Steward Medicaid Care Network • Wellforce with Fallon Community Health Plan Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Service H

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