QARR stands for Quality Assurance Reporting Requirements, which is the New York State Department of Health's version of the national Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS) developed and overseen by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA).

The QARR consists of a set of clinical and administrative performance measures reported annually by health plans for their commercial, Medicaid, Child Health Plus and, eventually, Family Health Plus programs. The State publishes QARR results for public consumption, and uses the results in decisions affecting health plan operations. The QARR is posted on the Department of Health website.

Examples of QARR measures include rates of childhood immunization, prenatal and postpartum visits, HbA1c testing and control for diabetics, cervical cancer screening, access to PCPs, inpatient utilization, provider turnover, and HIV testing in pregnant women. The QARR also includes a DOH administered Member Satisfaction Survey.

There are several reasons why the QM Department might request an appointment to come to your practice site:

Conduct chart review

• retrieve information on services delivered to our Members for which we have no encounter or claim in our database
• review indicators of care for a clinical study or monitoring process
• validate diagnoses and/or services recorded in our administrative database
• review quality of documentation and/or care for the recredentialing process
• investigate a member complaint
• when the QM team reviews charts, it is the provider's responsibility to pull the requested charts

Copy charts

• for SDOH studies conducted by IPRO, such as the Prenatal Care Review of PCAP Standards
• for our SDOH annual licensure review
• for complaint investigations
• when the QM Team copies charts, it is the provider's responsibility to pull the charts and make a copy machine available

Conduct Performance Improvement Meetings

• for collaborative brainstorming, identification of opportunities for improvement, and evaluation of barriers and development of plans to improve performance rates
• for quality management activities including QARR, studies, recredentialing and/or SDOH reviews of care
• when the QM team requests these meetings, it is the provider's responsibility to make appropriate staff available to meet at an agreed upon time

A report card or performance profile is a summary of a network or practice site’s and/or performance rates on various types of care provided to our Members. Following the annual QARR review, for example, a provider's performance rates for the QARR measures are compared to the aggregate performance of county and all Affinity Health Plan providers.

Best practices and opportunities for improvement are identified evident and form a basis for the QM Department to work with the provider on sharing successful methodologies and/or overcoming barriers to improving performance.

A Referral Form is required whenever a PCP refers a patient to another provider for consultation or treatment. Referrals for most services do not require prior approval by our Medical Management (MM) Department; the provider receiving the referral can provide the requested service based on the PCP referral alone. Those services that do require MM Department authorization are listed at the bottom of the Referral Form. For these services, the provider (PCP or specialist receiving the referral) must contact our MM Department and submit clinical information to support the request before delivering the service.

Our MM Department is reviewing the information to determine medical necessity using nationally accepted clinical review criteria. In most cases, the elements needed to make a decision are contained in the physician's progress notes including past history, signs and symptoms, current treatment regime and reason for requesting the service. Providers can fax a copy of the patient's progress notes to us to facilitate the authorization process (718.794.7822 or 718.536.3329).

No, the specialist may order the MRI, but must adhere Affinity Health Plan rules regarding prior authorization. The specialist is expected to relay his/her findings and recommendations back to the PCP. The specialist cannot refer the patient to another specialist.

For non-urgent requests, we comply with the State mandate that determinations be made and communicated back to the provider and Member within three (3) business days of receipt of necessary clinical information.

In urgent cases, the provider can provide the service, and then request retrospective authorization by submitting supportive clinical information to us with notification that the service has already been performed.

The provider may wish to pursue a more conservative treatment approach first. If the provider does not agree with our decision, he/she may file an appeal with us. Information on how to file an appeal is included with our adverse determination, i.e., denial letter.

LogistiCare is the vendor that Affinity Health Plan has contracted with to manage non-emergent transportation services.

• Ambulette
• Livery/Taxi
• Metrocard

11/09/2009 for Medicaid members only (excluding members in Orange and Rockland Counties-their services are covered through their local Dept. of Social Services).Medicare members will begin on 01/01/10.

Medicaid Members and/or providers may call LogistiCare on or after 10/26/2009 to schedule transportation services for dates of service after 11/09/2009.

• Reservations: 866.475.5749
• Urgent (Immediate) Response: 866.418.9810

866.428.2351

Members can order trips up to 30 days in advance (as long as they are eligible).

Members must give 72 hours (3 days) notice when ordering routine transportation appointments.

Yes. The appointment will be confirmed by the ordering provider, and transportation will be provided same day via taxi. Providers will receive phone calls from LogistiCare customer service staff to confirm all urgent appointments.

Members may call 866.418.9810 if their scheduled transportation has not arrived. They (and providers) may also use this number to set up return transportation from an appointment, especially if they did not schedule a round trip because they were unsure of when their appointment would be over.

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Ride Assistance line is open 24/7.

Routine transportation for Saturday and Sunday should be ordered during normal business hours. Urgent Saturday and Sunday transportation can be handled through the Ride Assistance line.

Members will need to have the following information ready when they call LogistiCare

• Affinity ID number
• Date and time of appointment
• Date of Birth
• Name and telephone number of the doctor/health center/etc
• Pick up time and location

Providers will need to have the following information ready when they call LogistiCare

• Affinity ID number (Member)
• Date and time of appointment
• Date of Birth (of Member)
• Appointment time
• Member’s address and phone number
• Medical necessity for service (may be required to complete medical justification form)

Providers/facilities may be contacted by LogistiCare for additional documentation if Members requesting transportation indicate to the LogistiCare CSA that they need “special assistance (have difficulty walking, difficulty breathing, need an escort, etc.)” The provider/facility will be asked to complete a medical justification form so that the Member will receive the method of transportation that is best suited to their needs.

Members will continue to get MetroCards from their doctor’s office/clinic/hospital/mental health facility.

Members who request a different method of transportation than what was ordered (i.e., livery vs. MetroCard in NYC), must be referred to the ordering provider/facility, as the ordering provider must complete a medical justification form and forward it to LogistiCare for filing/review.

Medicaid Members will continue to obtain MetroCards from their PCP offices, some specialist offices, clinics, health centers, hospitals, behavioral health sites, and outpatient clinic sites.

Providers new to MetroCard may obtain an “initial disbursement” of MetroCards by contacting LogistiCare at 866.428.2351.

Providers who currently provide MetroCards will fax their completed MetroCard log forms to LogistiCare at 877.457.3334. At the present time, LogistiCare will only accept logs with transportation dates of service AFTER 11/09/09. Logs with transportation dates of service prior to 11/09/09 will continue to be faxed to Affinity for replenishment. To avoid gaps in replenishment, facilities/providers should allow at least 2 weeks processing time for MetroCards. The cards will be sent to the providers via US mail.

Affinity was provided a list of approved HRA cases from New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland and Orange counties. Affinity will honor the authorizations and their assigned expiration dates for up to six months from the date of transition to Affinity. Personal care service providers with HRA issued authorizations beyond 2/28/2012 will need to request authorization for an updated nursing assessment and personal care services. Affinity requires that providers request the nursing assessment and personal care services at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the existing authorization.

Affinity received a list of HRA cases with expired authorization dates. Affinity will extend those authorizations up to 60 days but no longer than 10/1/11. Affinity requires that providers request an authorization for the nursing assessment and personal care services at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the existing authorization.

Personal care service providers will need to submit a new MD order 30 days prior to the end of the authorization for evaluation of continued services.

Upon receipt of the completed MD order, Affinity will authorize a Nursing Assessment (RN evaluation) for personal care services. This assessment in the approved Affinity Health Plan format should be completed within 2 business days of the RN Assessment authorization.

For re-authorization, Affinity requires that personal care service providers request authorization for continued services at least 30 days prior to the end of the authorization period. At that time, providers must submit a new MD order. Affinity will issue an authorization for the RN Assessment for re-evaluation, and continuation of personal care services.

Affinity providers that are contracted for conducting Nursing Assessments are required to obtain the MD order for the RN evaluation and personal care services.

Supervisory nursing visits should be performed by the contracted personal care agency at least every 6 months when:

• the patient is self-directing; and the patient's medical condition is not expected to require any change in the level, amount or frequency of personal care services authorized during this time period.

Nursing supervisory visits must be made at least every 90 days when:

• the patient's medical condition requires more frequent visits
• the patient is not self-directing
• the person providing personal care services needs additional or more frequent on-the-job training to perform assigned functions and tasks competently and safely

The nurse supervisor must prepare a written report of each orientation visit and each nursing supervisory visit.

A copy of the report must be submitted to Affinity via the Home Care Fax line at 718.536.3328 and maintained in the Member’s record.

One vendor stated that historically, they were not required to obtain nursing assessment for housekeeping clients. A vendor stated that for housekeeping clients, the nurses only completed a supervisory form.

All Nursing Assessments, Level 1 (includes housekeeping services) and Level 2 personal care services require an MD order and prior authorization. A nursing assessment should be completed to confirm that the level of care required has not changed. Supervisory visits of assigned staff do not provide the same depth of information.

The Plan of Care is the plan's responsibility and is based in part upon the completed nursing assessment.

Please refer to credentialing requirements in your Affinity Provider Agreement. Medical Management requires standard documentation of the care provided during the personal care visit.

1. Aide Changes: Notification within 1 business day of occurrence via the Home Care Fax Line at 718.536.3328
2. Replacement Aides: Notification within 1 business day of occurrence via the Home Care Fax Line at 718.536.3328
3. Schedule Changes (hours): Notification within 1 business day of occurrence via the Home Care Fax Line at 718.536.3328
4. Client Hospitalizations: Notification same business day with name of facility, date of admission via the Home Care Fax Line at 718.536.3328
5. Client Vacations: Notification same business day via the Home Care Fax Line at 718.536.3328
6. Refusal of Service: Notification same business day with reason for refusal; whether refusal one-time only or for remainder of authorized care via the Home Care Fax Line at 718.536.3328
7. Medication Issues: Notification same business day with concurrent notification to prescribing physician as indicated, via the Home Care Fax LineYes, notification same day via the Home Care Fax Line (718-536-3328).

• Notify Affinity Health Plan immediately of precipitating event
• Notify primary care or prescribing physician immediately for request of emergency increase or recommendation for alternate level of care
• Contact Affinity Health Plan with physician orders for emergency increase
• If unable to contact physician, notify Affinity Health Plan for coordination of alternate level of care

Yes, notification same day via the Home Care Fax Line at 718.536.3328.

Please follow above-referenced process. Authorization will be issued after receipt of physician orders for emergency care.

Please submit an Affinity Sentinel Event Form on same business day of occurrence. Please complete form in its entirety and fax to the Home Care Fax line at 718.536.3328.

Please provide the appropriate and specific persons, contact information to report/address any client concerns. Please contact supervisor on call for emergent issues at 917.807.5845, non emergent issues to the Home Care Fax line at 718.536.3328.

At this time, NY Medicaid Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS) are provided through contracts negotiated between local departments of social service and the PERS provider.

The local department of social service authorization for PERS services is based on a physician's order and a comprehensive assessment which must include an evaluation of the client's physical disability status, the degree that they would be at risk of an emergency due to medical or functional impairments or disability and the degree of their social isolation.

Affinity Health Plan personal care services providers are asked to complete the PERS Assessment and PERS Evaluation forms as part of the Nursing Assessment for personal care services.

For Medicaid members, eligibility may be checked by calling 866.247.5678 (follow the prompt for provider relations), or to check online visit emedny.org/epaces.

Claims are paid within 30 days; the timeframe is calculated from the claim’s receipt date to pay date. A provider’s verbal or written requests for appeal must be communicated to Affinity within 45 days following receipt of the Explanation of Benefits.