A message from Deputy Secretary of Children’s Medical Services, Dr. Jeffrey Brosco:
Dear Colleagues,
You are likely well aware of the exciting changes to our CMS Health Plan starting this Friday, February 1st. By partnering with Wellcare, we believe that the CMS Health Plan will be able to better serve children with special health care needs, their families, and pediatric providers. This “Frequently Asked Questions” document that you should have received already by email.
Some key messages:
Families should be getting calls and letters (such as this one) with the message that they do not need to do anything to continue with CMS Health Plan coverage. Families should continue to make and go to appointments just as they always have. If a family has questions, they should call CMS Health Member services operated by WellCare at 866-799-5321.
More than 90% of current CMS health care providers are already part of the new CMS Health Plan operated by Wellcare, so most families will not see any disruptions in their child’s care. There is also a 180 day continuity of care provision, so there is still a lot of time for signing on providers and ensuring smooth transitions when there has to be a change in providers.
Many of our current CMS care coordinators, as well as leaders in the current CMS Health Plan, have been hired by Wellcare. We are committed to making this transition as seamless as possible for families and health care providers.
The Florida Department of Health will continue to have close oversight of all aspects of the CMS Health Plan, including clinical eligibility, to help ensure that children receive the care they need.
Additional information will be available on our website:
http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/cms-plan/
We appreciate all the work that you do to improve the health of children with special health care needs, and we hope that you will help disseminate this information to families and your colleagues.
There are bound to be difficulties in a transition of this magnitude. Please do not hesitate to let us know what’s working and what’s not.
We all want the best for Florida’s children and families.
Thank you,
Jeffrey P. Brosco MD PhD
Deputy Secretary
Children’s Medical Services
Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A06
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1707
Phone: 850.245.4213
