Woburn, MA - Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan (BMCHP) recently selected Beacon Health Strategies (Beacon) as its behavioral health partner. On March 1, 2010, Beacon assumed responsibility for managing behavioral health benefits on behalf of BMCHP’s 240,000 Massachusetts members. Beacon’s services include utilization management, case management, psychotropic drug adherence and monitoring, provider network contracting and management, claims processing, and quality management and improvement.

Since its founding in 1997, BMCHP had managed its behavioral health benefits internally. Recognizing that effectively managing behavioral health conditions improves both behavioral and physical health outcomes for members at an efficient cost, BMCHP was impressed with Beacon’s 14 years of Massachusetts-based behavioral health management experience and its commitment to integrating physical and behavioral care management. Beacon is employing its proven Integrated Partner Model to promote active coordination of behavioral health and medical services with BMCHP and its providers.

Stanley Hochberg, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, commented that “Beacon has demonstrated outstanding clinical and quality programming, Medicaid expertise, and efficient administrative operations. The fact that they are Massachusetts-based and know the local market was also a very strong factor in our decision.”

“Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan’s decision to select Beacon is a validation of our organization’s quality and our commitment to providing superior care management services to members, providers and other stakeholders.” stated Beacon’s President and CEO Timothy R. Murphy. He adds, “Our long established presence in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts puts us in a strong position to quickly show positive results for BMCHP, its members and providers and the taxpayers of the Commonwealth.”

With the addition of BMC HealthNet Plan’s 240,000 members, Beacon now becomes the largest manager of behavioral health benefits for the Commonwealth’s Medicaid and Commonwealth Care programs.

Founded in 1996, Beacon Health Strategies is recognized as a leader in behavioral health care management services for Medicaid, Medicare and commercial populations. Beacon currently serves 2.5 million members in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, the District of Columbia and Kansas, with Florida and Wisconsin operations commencing late in 2010. Accredited by both URAC and NCQA, Beacon’s success derives from its member-centric and locally-administered managed care services, active integration of members’ medical and behavioral health care needs, innovative clinical programming, and customized solutions for every health plan partner.

Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan is a Massachusetts-based health maintenance organization serving approximately 240,000 MassHealth (Medicaid) and Commonwealth Care members. It was recently ranked #2 in the nation for Medicaid plans according to US News & World Report/NCQA America’s Best Health Insurance Plans 2009-10. America’s Best health Insurance Plans is a trademark of U.S. News & World Report.