On behalf of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the University of Massachusetts Medical School (Office of Clinical Affairs) contracted with Permedion-HMS to perform utilization management services rendered to MassHealth members by acute hospital providers.
Permedion-HMS is conducting Preadmission Screening (PAS) Reviews for all elective inpatient hospital admissions. In addition, Permedion performs prepayment (inpatient) review and postpayment retrospective review of selected hospital claims. The NewMMIS system is the application used to conduct Preadmission Screening Reviews.
Preadmission Screening operations began with implementation of a fully-staffed call center on November 2, 2009. Prepayment review of services also started the first week in November and both inpatient and outpatient postpayment review began January 31, 2010.
The contract requires a fully-implemented Provider Relations Program, which involves regular meetings and onsite visits with Massachusetts acute care hospital providers by a full-time Provider Relations Manager. The purpose of this program is to educate the providers regarding the review process and to communicate trends and common errors.
Permedion-HMS will publish newsletters designed to offer education to the hospital providers regarding the utilization review process.
