COVID-19 #19—Modifications to Retainer Payment Process

On April 16, 2020, Partners released Provider Alert COVID-19 #18 – Appendix K Retainer Payment Requests, outlining the requirements and process for Appendix K retainer payments. Partners is modifying the process providers need to follow to submit Appendix K retainer payments. Effective April 22, 2020:

1. When the waiver participant/primary caregiver or the hired employee notifies the provider that the hired employee cannot provide care, a retainer payment agreement may be initiated for a 30-day period or until such a time that the staff has returned to work.

2. Starting April 22, 2020, providers will need to submit claims into the AlphaMCS system using the codes with the appropriate CR and XU Modifier below:

3. Provider agencies and EOR(s) will continue to submit information to Partners every Monday for the previous week, using the updated form available at https://providers.partnersbhm.org/covid-19-provider-forms/. Providers will now email the completed form to retainer@partnersbhm.org.

4. As a reminder, provider agencies and EOR(s) shall maintain documentation via the required service grid by entering COVID-19 on the grid with the Qualified Professional’s signature/EOR signature and date.

5. Retainer Payments shall be effective beginning March 13, 2020 and will end when the member is again available for services following the COVID-19 emergency. Invoices submitted through April 21, 2020 will be paid based on the Invoice already submitted.  However, all Retainer Payments submitted April 22, 2020 forward, will be paid by claims in the AlphaMCS system.

If you have any questions regarding Appendix K Retainer Payment Requests, please e-mail retainer@partnersbhm.org. For questions regarding other flexibilities in Appendix K, please submit questions regarding other flexibilities in Appendix K to InnovationsExceptions@partnersbhm.org.