The new agreement will create new opportunities for eligible residents on the South Coast to access CCA’s nationally recognized care model and Southcoast Health’s expert provider network

BOSTON and NEW BEDFORD, MA – October 28, 2021 – Commonwealth Care Alliance® (CCA), an integrated care system serving nearly 42,000 individuals that has earned national recognition for its proven expertise in complex care coordination and delivery, and Southcoast®  Health, the largest provider of primary and specialty care serving communities across Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, today announced a provider agreement that will provide CCA’s members with access to over 700 providers at Southcoast’s primary care practices and three hospitals in Fall River, New Bedford and Wareham.

“By collaborating with mission-aligned organizations and expanding the reach of our care model, CCA is creating more choice in healthcare for individuals with significant needs who have traditionally been offered extremely limited options,” said Christopher D. Palmieri, President and CEO of Commonwealth Care Alliance.  “We are proud to add Southcoast Health to our robust provider network as we work to close critical gaps in care for individuals with unmet medical, behavioral health and social needs by integrating environmental and community supports with their local healthcare system.”

CCA currently offers two health plans in Massachusetts: CCA One Care, the largest plan of its kind in the state and one of the fastest growing plans of its kind in the country, is a Massachusetts demonstration Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) for individuals between 21 and 64 who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. CCA Senior Care Options (SCO), rated five stars by CMS, is an HMO Special Needs Plan for people who are 65 and older and eligible for Medicaid. These dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries qualify as high-need based on income or health status, and often live with multiple chronic conditions, physical or behavioral health disabilities, severe mental illness, and social determinants of health (SDOH) needs, including food and housing insecurity.

To complement its existing Massachusetts product offerings, CCA is also adding two new Medicare Advantage plans to the market, designed for people with significant needs who narrowly miss Medicaid income or asset thresholds.

CCA will also expand beyond Massachusetts for the first time, offering Medicare Advantage plans in Rhode Island. These new plans will be designed to meet the needs of individuals who often live with chronic conditions and face multiple social or medical needs. Members of CCA Rhode Island’s Medicare Advantage and Dual Eligible Special Needs plans will also have access to the Southcoast Health providers delivering care in Rhode Island.

“As providers, our top priority is to treat patients with the personal, high-quality care they deserve in an environment where they feel valued and supported. I am excited for the opportunities that this new agreement between Southcoast and CCA will bring, and know that access to community-based care can be invaluable for those living with significant health challenges,” said Dr. Jay Lawrence, Senior Vice President, Chief Transformation and Innovation Officer, and Physician in Chief for Primary Care at Southcoast Health.

“Strong provider relationships play a tremendous role in CCA’s commitment to an exceptional patient experience and improved clinical outcomes,” said Dr. Robert MacArthur, Chief Medical Officer at Commonwealth Care Alliance. “Through innovation and coordination, people with significant needs in Massachusetts and Rhode Island now have expanded opportunities to access the high-quality, individualized care they deserve. “

There are nearly 150,000 individuals eligible for one of CCA’S plans in the southeastern Massachusetts region. Individuals on the South Coast interested in learning more about CCA can visit https://www.commonwealthcarealliance.org/.