The Department of Human Services (DHS) has just issued a Medical Assistance (MA) Bulletin for providers relating to Act 62 titled, Payment of Claims for Services Provided to Children and Adolescents for the Diagnostic Assessment and Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this bulletin is to remind providers enrolled in the MA Program, both fee-for-service (FFS) and HealthChoices, of the requirement to bill a child’s or adolescent’s private health insurance company before submitting a claim for the diagnostic assessment or treatment of ASD. It is also to inform providers of the diagnosis codes and procedure codes which will be included in the MA FFS cost avoidance process, effective Friday, September 30. HealthChoices managed care organizations will provide guidance and information to contracted practitioners and providers in the Medicaid managed care system with regard to implementation by September 30.

The DHS clinical staff has identified behavioral health, physical health, and rehabilitation procedure codes that reflect services for the diagnostic assessment and treatment of ASD covered under Act 62. The procedure codes that are on the MA Program fee schedule will be subject to the cost avoidance process for MA FFS claims beginning September 30.

Registration is open now for two webinar sessions on Thursday, August 25 that are being held by DHS in collaboration with RCPA:

• Session 1, 12:00–1:00 pm: The target audience for this webinar session is BH-MCOs, counties, and county oversight organizations.
• Session 2, 1:00–2:00 pm: The target audience for this webinar session is behavioral health and pediatric rehabilitation provider organizations.