The Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) provides Medicaid through:

• HUSKY A for children, their parents or a relative caregiver, and pregnant individuals
• HUSKY C for individuals ages 65 or older, and individuals ages 16 to 65 who are either blind or who are living with another disability
• HUSKY D for low-income individuals ages 19 through 65 without dependent children, who do not qualify for HUSKY A, who do not receive Medicare, and who are not pregnant
• Medicare Savings Program for low-income Medicare enrollees

In addition to the above programs, DSS provides Medicaid coverage through certain limited benefit programs that allow coverage for specific conditions or services. The current limited benefit programs are outlined below.

Tuberculosis (TB) Limited Benefit Program – Covered Services

• Services provided by physicians, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), and Physician Assistants (PAs); medical, rehabilitation, and dialysis clinics; independent labs; independent radiology facilities; local health departments; and outpatient hospitals related to a TB diagnosis
• Respiratory therapy in a rehabilitation clinic
• A select group of medications used in the treatment of TB
• Home health services limited to nurse observation of individuals diagnosed with TB self-administering oral TB medication
• Non-emergency medical transportation

Family Planning Limited Benefit Program – Covered Services

• Services provided by physicians, APRNs, CNMs, ambulatory surgical centers, clinics, independent labs, and outpatient hospital services as part of, or as a follow-up to, a family planning visit
• Comprehensive physical exams
• Screening and treatment for sexually transmitted disease
• Voluntary sterilization (in accordance with state and federal guidelines)
• Contraceptive services and supplies
• HPV vaccinations (male and female)
• Family planning related surgical treatments
• Pregnancy tests
• A select group of medications relevant to family planning services
• TRUVADA for PrEP^® (pre-exposure prophylaxis)
• Non-emergency medical transportation

COVID-19 Testing Group/Medicaid for the Uninsured – Covered Services

• COVID-19 lab testing
• Chest x-ray when related to the ordering of COVID-19 testing
• Emergency department and office visits related to the ordering of COVID-19 testing
• COVID-19 treatment services including specialized equipment therapies (including preventive therapies) and treatment of a condition that may seriously complicate treatment of COVID-19 for those presumed to have or have been diagnosed with COVID-19
• COVID-19 vaccine administration

Additional information on limited benefit programs is available on the Benefit Grids page of the HUSKY Health provider website.

Providers may verify a patient’s Medicaid eligibility and benefit plan information through the Automated Eligibility Verification System (AEVS) available on the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CMAP) secure provider portal.

Primary care providers can attest to the difficulties for patients to overcome barriers to seeking preventive care, both internal (fear, misunderstanding) and external (access, transportation). Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc.^® (CHNCT) encourages providers to utilize its data reporting tools found in CareAnalyzer^® and on the HUSKY Health secure provider web portal. Providers can access our CareAnalyzer^® population health and data analytics software to target members for care coordination services, and assess members with high-risk conditions for early intervention and development of disease management programs. Gaps in care can be identified to support wellness programs such as child lead screening (by 2^nd birthday), weight assessment/counseling for children 3-17 years of age (BMI, nutrition, and physical activity), pharmacy adherence for disease conditions based on claims data, and to determine utilization trends. The HUSKY Health secure provider web portal contains a variety of reports including gaps in care, hospital admissions and discharges, and emergency department (ED) utilization. There is notation in the reports that identifies members who are working with our care management team. To obtain access and learn how to use the reports and tools, please contact Jeff Wolansky, Quality Management Network Liaison at jwolansky@chnct.org.

This is an integrated behavioral health program intended to educate primary care providers (PCPs) in the early identification, accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate referral of patients with psychiatric disorders. This conference is being offered to PCPs enrolled in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (CMAP) at no cost. We have worked to ensure a varied program for professional development and networking opportunities.

This year’s program will cover the following topics:

• Treatment of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents
• Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Children
• Pharmacologic Treatment of Tobacco, Alcohol, and Opioid Use Disorders
• Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Adults

CME credits will be awarded based on the extent of the provider’s participation in the activity.

Please visit the HUSKY Health website this summer for additional details and to register.

The ECHO model^TM links PCPs from multiple sites, the spokes, to a specialist team, the hub, to manage patients with complex medical needs during virtual clinic sessions. During the clinics, a brief didactic presentation is given, followed by PCPs from multiple sites presenting complex cases to the hub team. Hub specialists serve as mentors and colleagues by sharing their knowledge and experiences. ECHO clinics afford PCPs an opportunity to not only confer with specialists, but also interact with peers throughout Connecticut.

We hope you will join us at one of our upcoming sessions!

For more information, please visit the ECHO page on the HUSKY Health website.

ICM nurses work directly with you and your patients to manage chronic and multi-morbid conditions through a person-centered plan of care. By meeting members “where they are,” ICM nurses provide focused care coordination, resulting in improved patient participation for better health. ICM nurses conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine barriers to care. Some barriers include: a lack of understanding of their condition, including its pathophysiology, effects of disease progression, why medication is important, how to take prescribed medications and their potential side-effects, the importance of regularly scheduled medical follow-up appointments, how to recognize symptoms requiring medical attention, when to call their provider, transportation, and unmet basic needs like housing or food insecurity which are impacting members’ abilities to focus on their health needs. Assessments conducted by our ICM staff occur over the phone, in-person at the member’s home, as well as other community settings like providers’ offices, shelters, and hospitals.

ICM has specialty programs to meet your patients’ unique needs including programs for individuals with asthma, diabetes, Sickle Cell Disease, heart failure, COPD, CAD, and a program for your pregnant, postpartum, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients. All ICM programs are focused on providing evidence-based coaching to increase your patients’ understanding of their condition, and a plan of care to improve their health outcomes.

To refer patients to ICM, call 1.800.440.5071, x2024.

You can also go to portal.ct.gov/husky, click “Information for Providers,” “Reports & Resources,” “Provider Forms,” then “ICM Referral Form.” Fax a completed ICM Referral form to 1.866.361.7242.