Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID)
Model for hospice

An Explanation of the VBID model

Under its Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently launched a demonstration with the goal of improving patients’ experience using hospice benefits within their Medicare Part A benefits package. This demonstration aims to improve care delivery and quality by enhancing the coordination of services for patients.

Beginning January 1, 2023 the SCAN plans participating in this demonstration are the SCAN Embrace (HMO SNP) I-SNP plans in California identified below. By participating in the VBID program, SCAN Embrace members who are hospice-eligible can access and utilize the full benefits of hospice care while continuing to see their SCAN Embrace primary care providers.

SCAN Plans Participating in the 2024 Hospice VBID Model

Medicare Plan

County Service Areas

SCAN Embrace H5425-086

Los Angeles County, CA

SCAN Embrace H5425-087

Orange County, CA

SCAN Embrace H5425-091

San Bernardino County, CA

 

Please note that SCAN Embrace products in Arizona (SCAN Desert Health Plan) are not participating in the VBID model in 2024.

About SCAN Health Plan’s VBID Hospice model

SCAN’s VBID Hospice model focuses on creating a better, more supportive experience and improving the continuity of care for our members who are transitioning into hospice from their traditional Medicare Advantage benefits.

SCAN is partnering with several high-quality and accountable hospice providers to offer end-of-life care for those members that are eligible. SCAN and these providers will identify, engage, and support members in accessing both their hospice and traditional Medicare Advantage plan benefits. Members that elect hospice with an in-network hospice provider are eligible for additional supplemental benefits and Transitional Concurrent Care (TCC).

Interested in joining SCAN's network?

SCAN is no longer accepting applications for calendar year 2024. We will open submissions for 2025, should SCAN be a participant in the VBID Hospice Carve in, in late fall 2024.

In order to be considered an in-network hospice provider with SCAN Health Plan through the VBID program, a provider must have an executed contract with SCAN Health Plan.

Benefits of the VBID Program

Transitional Concurrent Care (TCC)

Members who select an in-network hospice are eligible to receive relevant TCC services as the member and their family move into hospice. This means that certain curative therapies and services related to the member’s terminal diagnosis may be continued after the member begins hospice to ease the transition to hospice and to keep the member’s usual care team engaged in the process. Examples of TCC include (but are not limited to): stepdown chemotherapy for members with a terminal cancer diagnosis, neurologist visits for those with a terminal Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, behavioral health therapy visits, etc.

TCC services must be authorized by SCAN Health Plan at the time of hospice election. Members and/or their legal Power of Attorneys (POAs) should consult with their Embrace primary care provider on which TCC services are right for them. Upon hospice admission, the SCAN Embrace case management team will authorize any TCC services agreed upon by the member’s primary care team and member and/or POA. Members will then receive an authorization from SCAN Health Plan and can contact the specified provider to access those TCC services.

For more information about TCC or to request information about a specific TCC therapy or service, please contact the SCAN Embrace team at 855-828-7226 or SCAN Member Services at 1-800-559-3500 (TTY 711) or email VBIDHospice@scanhealthplan.com.

$500 Assistance Allowance

Members who select an in-network hospice are able to spend a one-time $500 allowance on any combination of the supplemental benefits below to support their social and emotional needs during the hospice election:

  1. MemoryWell, professionally written life stories to help members share what matters most to them with their families and care providers – provided in-person or virtually. [For more information about the MemoryWell benefit option, visit https://www.memorywell.com/scan];
  2. Anticipatory grief counseling sessions with a SCAN-contracted, licensed behavioral health provider provided via telehealth

SCAN has created bundled combinations of benefits within those two selections, and Members will be allowed to allocate their $500 across the two options as they choose during the hospice consultation process.

Enhanced Care Coordination

Through the VBID program, SCAN has partnered with its in-network hospice providers to deliver a coordinated care model. SCAN primary care providers have established direct connections with hospice care teams and frequently communicate updates on members’ care to ensure a seamless experience for members and their loved ones while on hospice. The SCAN case management team will continue supporting members after they’ve elected hospice. Members can reach the SCAN case management team at 855-828-7226.

For more information about the VBID Hospice program, please contact SCAN

Calls to SCAN Member Services are free. Contact us October 1 to March 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, April 1 to September 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. Note: We are closed on most federal holidays. When we are closed you have an option to leave a message. Messages received on holidays and outside of our business hours will be returned within one business day. Member Services also has free language interpreter services available for non-English speakers.

Operational Guidance for Hospice Providers

Notice of Election, Notice of Termination/Revocation

Notice of Election (NOE) and Notice of Termination/Revocation (NOTR) should be submitted to both SCAN and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) via your MAC as submitted today within five (5) calendar days of the hospice admission date.

Effective 5/22/2023, SCAN is no longer requiring NOEs, Certification of Terminal Illness, or hospice consents to be sent via email upon admission.

In instances where a NOE is not timely filed to SCAN, SCAN shall not cover and pay for the days of hospice care from the hospice admission date to the date the NOE is submitted to, and accepted by, the A/B MAC (HHH). These days shall be a provider liability, and the provider shall not bill the beneficiary for them. The hospice shall report these non-covered days on the claim with an occurrence span code 77, and charges for all claim lines reporting these days shall be reported as non-covered, or the claim will be returned to the provider.

Certification of Terminal Illness and accompanying clinical documentation

Pursuant to 42 C.F.R. § 418.22, hospice providers must ensure that a written certification of Terminal Illness is on file in the member’s medical record and available for inspection before the hospice provider submits any claims for payment to SCAN, and no more than fifteen (15) days prior to the effective date of the NOE. A certification of Terminal Illness must be filed in the medical record for each election period, even if a single NOE covers subsequent election periods. Clinical information and other documentation that support the medical prognosis must accompany the certification in the Member's medical record.

Notification of Discharge, Transfer, or Revocation

Please notify the SCAN Case Management team by phone (855-828-7226) or email (VBIDHospice@scanhealthplan.com) or via TigerConnect within 24 hours of patient’s discharge, transfer, or revocation from hospice.

Claims Submission

SCAN encourages Providers to submit claims electronically utilizing the EDI 837 Healthcare Claim Transaction. Providers can contact their Clearinghouse (provide SCAN’s Payer ID# SCAN1) and Practice Management System (PMS) vendor or Hospital Information System (HIS) vendor to establish EDI 837 connectivity with SCAN.

  • Note: Provider submission must comply with current HIPAA EDI standards.
  • SCAN Clearinghouse Information
    SCAN EDI 837 Vendor: SCAN partners with Office Ally at no cost to providers
    SCAN’s Payer ID#: SCAN1
  • Office Ally Contact Information:
    ◦ Phone: (360) 975-7000 (Mon-Fri, 5am-9pm PST, Sat/Sun 6am-5pm PST)
    ◦ Email: info@officeally.com
    ◦ Live Chat: support.officeally.com
  • SCAN Claims Contact Information:
    ◦ Phone: (800) 307-8003, Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm PST

You can access the provider section found near the bottom of the landing page. There you can register as a provider and access Office Ally and important provider information, including member eligibility verification tools or by visiting https://www.scanhealthplan.com/providers.

All claims should be submitted according to CMS requirements to be considered a clean claim.

Claims Reimbursement

Provider shall submit to SCAN bills for Covered Services monthly in accordance with Medicare billing requirements. Claims must be filed no later than the close of the period ending one (1) calendar year after the date of service. Claims submitted after one (1) calendar year after the date of service will be denied and Provider shall not bill the Member or the Member's estate, as applicable.

SCAN will pay clean claims within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt for contracted providers and within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt for non-contracted providers. Providers will receive payment in the amount indicated in the provider’s contract or at the Original Medicare rate. Payment will be reduced by contractually determined amounts and by CMS sequestration appropriate at the time of payment.

Payment will be in the form of a payment card or a check. For details on payment methods, please visit the SCAN Provider Portal or the Change Health Care website.

Member Out of Pocket

Copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts (MOOP) found in a member’s plan may apply to select services while member participates in the SCAN hospice program.

No Balance Billing

Member balance billing (MBB) is strictly prohibited.  SCAN payments to providers are considered payment in full, less any copays, coinsurance, or deductibles – which are the financial responsibility of the Member. Providers are prohibited from seeking additional payment from Members for any other unpaid balances.

Checking Claims Status

Claims status can be checked on-line via SCAN’s Provider Portal. To register, please go to https://www.scanhealthplan.com/providers and follow the registration process.

Provider Disputes

Contracted providers can file a provider dispute for claims disposition by accessing the provider portal and submitting an electronic request. SCAN will review the request for dispute, review the claim, review the contract, and provide feedback within fourteen (14) calendar days. Note some requests may require additional time to review and respond with a determination.

Grievances and Appeals

Non-contracted providers can submit a grievance/appeal by faxing their complaint to SCAN or by submitting the complaint through the provider portal.

Providers can access the
Provider Operations Manual for details by accessing the SCAN Provider Portal.

Additional Information and Links

Contact SCAN

SCAN Claims Department

Mail: 

SCAN Claims Department
PO Box 22698
Long Beach, CA 90801-5616

SCAN Grievance and Appeals

Fax: 562-997-1835
Provider Portal: https://www.scanhealthplan.com/providers

Mail:
SCAN
Attention: Claims – 2nd Level Appeal
PO Box 22698
Long Beach, CA 90801-5616

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