RFR 250533 Ambulatory Q & A Page 5_8_24.docx

250533 Ambulatory Services for Substance Use and Addictive Disorders

BD-24-1031-BSAS0-BSA01-98075

UPDATED 5/8/2024

QA Page

1. There is some confusion as to the due date. Section A1: Procurement of the narrative indicates the date is April 1st. However, in Section E the due date is March 18th. Can you please clarify?

a. All RFRs have to up and posted for a minimum of 40 days, as required by MA law, hence the March 18th deadline for application. Due to the fact that procurement BD-24-1031-BSAS0-BSA01-98075 is a rolling RFR, applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis and that March 18th deadline is much more flexible (BSAS will accept applications up until the year prior to the contract end date listed in the RFR).

For providers who are already contacted with BSAS to provide ambulatory programs, in order to prevent a break in service, we need applications in by April 1st.

2. Will there be a QA session for vendors?

a. Vendors are encouraged to submit questions in writing to Ryan Naismith at:

ryan.h.naismith@mass.gov . All submitted questions will be answered and published promptly on Comm Buys so that all applicants may have equal access to the information.

3. Can multiple agencies apply from the same area? Certain grants only allow one agency from a specific location to apply, which pushes collaboration. Theoretically, could multiple agencies from Nantucket apply and be awarded?

a. There is no geographic cap on vendors. Multiple vendors from a geographic area can apply and be awarded.

4. Is this a one time application or a fluid grant where we could apply in future years?

a. Procurement BD-24-1031-BSAS0-BSA01-98075 is a rolling procurement so the deadline to apply is fluid. All RFRs have to up and posted for a minimum of 40 days, as required by MA law, hence the March 18th deadline for application. Due to the fact that procurement BD-24-1031-BSAS0-BSA01-98075 is a rolling RFR, applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis and that March 18th deadline is much more flexible (BSAS will accept applications up until the year prior to the contract end date listed in the RFR). New and prospective vendors are encouraged to apply.

For providers who are already contacted with BSAS to provide ambulatory programs, in order to prevent a break in service, we need applications in by April 1st.

5. Is coverage of office based addiction treatment (OBAT) within the scope of this RFR such that under this contract BSAS will be payor of last resort for prescriber services provided to individuals licensed by DPH for Medicine/Mental Health and by BSAS for OP SUD?

a. OBAT services are procured by BSAS under a separate RFR. The OBAT RFR is not currently open.

6. May we include plans in the application for services that we are not currently providing, yet anticipate offering with future program expansion during the 5 year contract period? Alternatively, would we be able to submit a supplemental application for additional services in the future as we expand?

a. Yes, you may submit services you anticipate providing during the contract period. You will also be able to submit applications for services as they are created.

7. For an organization currently operating under a provisional license and anticipated to be fully licensed by the beginning of the contract period, can you clarify the requirement that applicants must have contracts with 3rd party insurance (section C1)? We are not able to establish insurance contracts until we receive full licensure.

a. Vendors must have BSAS licensure before they can be added to the Master Agreement contract. You may apply and offer services without licensure but must be licensed by the beginning of the contract period. We expect you to be working towards contracting with MassHealth, etc. You may not bill BSAS for clients who have insurances that you do not accept.

8. Question 7 is missing a text box and word/character limits.

a. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. It has been amended

9. Ques. 4- even if we checked every box, we only have a total of 2,500 characters for the entire response, correct? That doesn't seem like many characters if people are checking a lot of services...

a. The application has been amended to double the number of characters. If that proves insufficient for the scope of services provided, please attach a supplemental PDF

10. If we have more than one OP site that offers services, we need to submit a separate quote for each site.

a. No please list each site and what type of service they offer.

For example, if ACME, Co. offered Recovering Coaching, Group Counseling, and Day Treatment; and had 3 campuses in Boston, Cambridge, and Newton, your answer should read as:

· Recovering Coaching (Boston)

· Group Counseling (Boston, Cambridge)

· Day Treatment (Newton, Cambridge)

11. Are there any specific requirements for Pre and Post Adjudicated Services, or just the ability to support the population at these points in the legal system?

The intention behind the Pre and Post Adjudicated Services is to support agencies who are already working with/ partnered with relevant stakeholders (courts, parole, HOC, probation, drug courts, specialty courts etc). Our goal would be to support the agencies efforts in building out their established program, not just working with individuals, but programs.

12. If we are submitting an application for just Recovery Coaching, do we still need to obtain an Outpatient License?

Recovery coaching reimbursement under this RFR would require the provider to have an ambulatory license which provides an administrative, clinical support, and oversight structure for recovery coaches. Obtaining an ambulatory license is the only way that BSAS will reimburse for recovery coaching under this Ambulatory RFR.

9. If an agency is billing BSAS as POLR for OP SUD services, do all patients need to be entered into EIM/ESM, or only those patients for whom we are billing services to DPH as the POLR?

Yes, all patients need to be entered into EIM/ESM.

Follow up to Question #9. If an agency has a BSAS clinic license and is applying only to provide Recovery Coaching services, does the agency need to complete EIM / ESM only for those receiving Recovery Coaching services or for all patients under the BSAS clinic license?

Follow up to Question #9, who specifically does BSAS mean in the response to question 9 when it says “all” patients?

If an agency applies for individual and group ambulatory services, does the agency complete EIM / ESM only for those whose primary diagnosis is SUD or for all patients regarding of diagnosis receiving individual or group services under the clinic license?

10. Can an agency apply for a discrete service line only in one of the three categories of services i.e., Recovery Coaching in the Ambulatory OP Service category?

The provider must possess an ambulatory license for all the core services that a license would entail. They should consult the licensing regs for specifics. The intent is to have the provider also be credentialed with the Mass Health MCE so they can invoice for covered services including Recovery Coaching. It would be difficult for the provider to come in seeking to only have BSAS reimburse for Recovery Coaching exclusively as this should be provided in constellation with the other outpatient services.

11. If an agency does not respond to this MSA contract, are there any implications for the agency’s BSAS SUD outpatient license?

There are no implications for their license. They will remain licensed as an outpatient provider without a BSAS contract. And since this is a rolling RFR, there will be opportunities to apply at a future date.

12. Under Recovery Coaching Service, are Recovery Coach groups covered or just individual coaching services?

No, recovery coaches cannot count Recovery Coaching groups time as individual touch points, they should be individualized.

13. Will BSAS funds cover any of the following regardless of the individual's insurance coverage or lack thereof? (Recovery Coaching, Master's and Non-Master's Case Management for Adults and Adolescents, Adult Gambling Services - Individual Counseling, and/or Family Intervention - A-CRA) No, we will not cover regardless of insurance coverage. The provider is responsible for insuring they are in line with the POLR which indicates that 3rd party insurance needs to be pursued. It is expected that providers are credentialed with Mass Health MCEs, etc. The Masters/Non Masters CM unit needs to be specifically authorized by BSAS to support specific specialized programming (i.e. work with CJ system for a diversion program).

14.Can you point me in the direction of the Cultural and Linguistic Appropriate Services Standards and Guidelines?

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Initiative | Mass.gov 15.Will payor of last resort coverage be expanded to adolescents for programs accepted under this RFR?

16.Is a separate RFR coming out for MID?

The MID RFR is separate from the Ambulatory RFR.

17.Is this RFR intended for already-contracted agencies to reapply for this? Or is this an opportunity to expand on services?

Both. Agencies need to reapply to continue their existing contract and it is an opportunity to expand services if they would like.

18.Can you provide a unit rate sheet for this procurement? And what are the billing restrictions/parameters?

The rate sheet is now available on this RFR’s COMMBUYS page.

19.If an agency has a BSAS clinic license and is applying only to provide Recovery Coaching services, does the agency need to complete EIM/ESM only for those receiving Recovery Coaching services, or for all patients under the BSAS clinic license?

Primary diagnosis of SUD is expected to have ESM data submitted. Other clients with something other than a SUD primary do not need to have ESM data submitted.

20.If an organization us submitting a proposal for multiple services, can you confirm that it should submit a single proposal, providing an abstract for each service in question 4?

Yes, that is correct. Only submit one proposal with multiple abstracts as needed and utilizing additional PDFs if space is needed.

21.Is this RFR for renewing procurement for existing programs or is this for a new program?

This RFR is for renewing existing programs.

22. If an agency is billing BSAS as POLR for OP SUD services, do all patients need to be entered into EIM/ESM, or only those patients for whom we are billing services to DPH as the POLR?

Yes, all SUD patients need to be entered into EIM/ESM.

23. Can we apply for ACRA as a standalone component under the Family Intervention category (Q4), or do we need to have all the components listed under that heading?

Both the Ambulatory (aka outpatient) and Family Interventions RFRs were due for re-procurement and new contract start of July 1, 2024. Current providers were due to respond by April 1 to avoid possible disruption in contract. The RFR states: Vendors currently contracted with DPH to provide SUD Ambulatory Services, Problem Gambling Services, or Family Intervention must respond to this new RFR by April 1, 2024 in order to ensure contracting by July 1, 2024 and to avoid a break in service. This is a rolling RFR. Bidders may submit proposals during the entire contract period.

Agencies should use the check boxes in question 4 to indicate which services they are applying for. They do not have to choose every option under the heading.

Providers should respond to all questions 1-12, and only respond to questions 13 a-g, and 14, that apply to them.

24. Do all BILH programs with BSAS contracts need to respond to this RFR to continue their funding?

Yes.

25. Are we able to write specifically for adding an A-CRA position to the agency?

Yes.

26. Our facility offers Recovery Coaching, Recovery Navigator, and Clinical Case Management services. Would we qualify as a Recovery Support Center?

This RFR was for Ambulatory Outpatient Services, not Recovery Support Centers.

27. What are the license-level requirements for alcohol and drug counseling?

Counseling services are expected to be delivered by Master’s level clinicians. BSAS supports the specifications for insurance companies since those will be your primary payors for outpatient services.

28. Does this grant only cover recovery groups, or can we receive reimbursement for other groups offered at our facility, such as parenting, emotional/anger management, and youth enrichment?

This is not a grant. The RFR is contracting for outpatient SUD treatment services which can include clinical counseling groups for SUDs and SUD psychoeducational groups.

29. What are the specific diagnosis requirements for reimbursement? There is concern among our clients who have open court and DCF cases about the effects of a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnosis.

Clients who do not have insurance can be billed to BSAS as the payor of last resort. These clients must have a primary SUD diagnosis.

30. If a client has financial responsibility under their insurance, such as deductibles or copays, but cannot afford to pay them, can we submit their claim to BSAS for reimbursement?

No. Deductibles and copays may not be billed to BSAS. See POLR policy in the attachments on COMMBUYS.