Amida Care Expands Behavioral Health Benefits for Members
October 1 2015
Amida Care, New York’s largest Medicaid Special Needs Health Plan (SNP), is expanding its behavioral health services available to members. As of October 1, 2015, members of Amida Care’s Medicaid Live Life Plus plan are covered for mental health and substance use services that were previously reimbursed by fee-for-service Medicaid.* 
“Amida Care has long understood how holistic care leads to life-saving health outcomes and significant cost savings,” said Doug Wirth, President and CEO of Amida Care. “Behavioral health is a critical component of comprehensive treatment, and we anticipate that our expanded mental health and substance abuse coverage and services will have a tangible impact on the lives of our members.”
Amida Care will continue to coordinate all the physical and behavioral health care that its Medicaid members receive, enabling the organization to help providers achieve better outcomes for their patients. Amida Care’s Health and Recovery Plan (HARP)-eligible members will receive all the coverage and services they would receive through a standard HARP. Members receiving these benefits won’t experience any changes to their care, except that they will use their Amida Care membership card for their services instead of their Medicaid card.
In addition to the expanded benefits, as of January 1, 2016, some Amida Care members may be eligible for additional behavioral health benefits, including educational support services, peer supports, and residential support services, called Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). This cohort of membership is designated HARP-eligible by New York State.
These expanded offerings are part of Governor Cuomo’s efforts to redesign Medicaid in New York State for optimal health outcomes and cost effectiveness. This is an important step forward in enhancing access to high-quality behavioral health services for all New York State residents.
For more information on Amida Care’s expanded behavioral health benefits, please call Amida Care Member Services at 1-800-556-0689.
*Covered services include clinical evaluations to determine eligibility.