Frequently asked questions
Questions about Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI
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What is the difference among Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI (Medicare-Medicaid plan), Aetna Better Health of Illinois (MLTSS), Aetna Better Health of Illinois (Medicaid only)
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Aetna Better Health® Premier Plan MMAI (Medicare-Medicaid plan) is one plan that covers all health care needs for dual-eligible members (members who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid). It is easy and convenient. You have one place to call for answers to your questions. You have one ID card to carry.
Aetna Better Health of Illinois (MLTSS) is a Medicaid-only plan for dual-eligible members who meet the state’s criteria for needing an institutional level of care and choose to opt out of the Medicare portion of their health plan.
Aetna Better Health of Illinois (Medicaid only) is for low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. They qualify for Medicaid, but not Medicare.
Each health plan’s service area covers every county in Illinois.
If you’d like to find out how to join Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI or Aetna Better Health of Illinois, please call the Illinois Client Enrollment Services at 1-877-912-8880 (TTY: 1-866-565-8576).
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What is Aetna’s approach to medical home and how can I participate as a medical home?
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Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI believes that the patient-centered medical home is the central model for effective and efficient delivery of comprehensive primary care to enrollees in the Integrated Care Program. Medical homes have the potential to positively impact the health status of our Enrollees through:
- Designation of a personal primary care provider (PCP)
- A whole-person orientation
- Use of evidence-based medicine and health information technology
- Integration/coordination of care across an enrollee’s conditions, providers and settings.
Well-resourced medical homes has developed since our collaboration with providers increased, given the developmental nature of the concept and execution of medical homes nationally. Our first step in establishing a network of medical homes will be to survey provider practices to determine those that have the key characteristics of a medical home/PCP. More information will be sent out to the network in the event that we receive the contract award from the state.
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Why should I become an Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI provider?
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Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI is fully committed to serving the most vulnerable segments of the population. In fact, our mission is to do just that. We are excited about the opportunity to partner with the state and providers in Illinois to deliver a program that will meet the needs of adults with disabilities and older adults eligible for the Integrated Care Program.
We are prepared to provide services to assist in better managing your Medicaid members. Specifically, we offer programs to help you work more effectively with the Medicaid populations — services including support to schedule your patients more effectively and profiling tools to help you to better identify and manage high risk members and have easier access to disease management and other programs.
Our infrastructure and commitment to this program are for the long run.
Our goal is to build the best network of providers.
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What experience does Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI have serving this population?
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Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI is committed to working with providers on improving health outcomes of the Medicaid population. We have over 30 years of experience and proven capabilities with the aged, blind, hearing impaired and disabled population and expertise implementing Medicaid programs, which meet member and provider needs.
Our services will be tailored and customized to meet the needs of the state’s Medicaid Integrated Care Program and your needs as a participating provider in our network.
Aetna has extensive experience operating Medicaid plans throughout the country. Our teams and systems are operating in 16 states, serving nearly two million Medicaid beneficiaries.
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What is the reimbursement mechanism?
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The Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI fee schedule is competitive with the market and reflective of Medicaid rates.
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Will there be any changes to the claims submission process?
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Providers who contract with Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI will receive a provider handbook outlining the claims submission policies and procedures. The provider handbook and other information will be available online and through a provider specific portal.
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Who do I call if I have contract questions?
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You can call the Provider Services department at 1-866-600-2139.
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Will I need to be credentialed?
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If you are currently an Aetna commercial provider, further credentialing is not necessary.
If you are not currently credentialed through Aetna, you must subscribe to the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) and provide us with your CAQH number. We will perform the credentialing through the CAQH online service.
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How do I become an Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI provider?
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To join the Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI plan, please contact us at:
ILProviderUpdates@aetna.com or write us at
Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI
Attention: Provider Services3200 Highland Ave., MC F661Downers Grove, IL 60515Once you have completed credentialing, the contract execution is completed by Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI, the provider/office will receive a final copy of the contract, a contract effective date and a welcome package.
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What do I do if I do not participate in your network?
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Call Provider Services at 1-866-600-2139. A provider services representative will assist you.
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How do I get an authorization for new services or continue authorization for ongoing services during the transition?
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Medical
Providers should call the Prior Authorization department at 1-866-600-2139 to request continuation of authorization for medically necessary services. You can also use our secure web portal or the Prior Authorization form to request prior authorization via fax. Providers can fax a request to 1-855-320-8445 (toll-free).Pharmacy
For non-formulary medications or formulary medications subject to certain limits (prior authorization, step therapy, quantity limits), providers should fax the correct pharmacy prior authorization request form and any medical records supporting continuation/use of the medication to 1-855-684-5250. Note, there are designated pharmacy prior authorization request forms ad they are different than the form for medical prior authorization. Failure to use the correct form may delay your request. -
What information can I provide to your organization for a smooth transition of care to another provider?
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A case manager may call you to get specific information about member health care needs (i.e., medications prescribed, service information, etc.). A Transition of Care form is available online as well. Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI may also request medical records.
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Where do I send my claims?
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Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI encourages providers to electronically submit claims, through Change Healthcare. Please use the following Provider ID number when submitting claims to Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI: 26337 for both CMS 1500 and UB 04 forms.
Contact your Provider Services representative for more information on electronic billing.
Or you can mail hard copy claims or resubmissions to:
Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI
Claims and Resubmissions
P.O. Box 66545
Phoenix, AZ 85082Resubmitted claims should be clearly marked “Resubmission” on the envelope.
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How can I find out the status of a claims payment?
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Providers may review the status of a claim through our secure web portal or by calling our Claims Investigation Department at 1-866-600-2139.
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How do I find out the name of my Provider Services representative?
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Call Provider Services toll free at 1-866-600-2139.
Questions about Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI members
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How and when does a member become effective with Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI?
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Premier Plan
Aetna Better Health Premier Plan is a Medicare-Medicaid health plan for people who are dual-eligible. Those who are dual-eligible qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Members become effective the first day of the following month after they choose Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI.
If you’d like to find out how to join Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI or Aetna Better Health of Illinois, please call the Illinois Client Enrollment Services at 1-877-912-8880 (TTY: 1-866-565-8576).
*Effective 7/1/2021, our service area will expand to include these counties in Illinois:
Region 1 Northwestern counties – Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Jo Daviess, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Mercer, Ogle, Peoria, Putnam, Rock Island, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Warren, Whiteside, Winnebago, Woodford
Region 2 Central counties – Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Greene, Hancock, Iroquois, Jersey, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Vermilion
Region 3 Southern counties – Alexander, Bond, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Richland, Saline, St. Clair, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White, Williamson
Region 4 Cook County
Region 5 Collar counties – DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will
Members become effective the first day of the following month after they choose Aetna Better Health® Premier Plan MMAI.
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How do I verify eligibility of an Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI member?
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Before rendering services, providers must always verify eligibility on the date of service. Providers have several available options to verify eligibility:
- Call 1-866-600-2139 (24/7) option 1
- Through Aetna Better Health® Premier Plan MMAI secure web portal
Providers may also continue to use the existing Medicaid eligibility verification methods set up by the state of Illinois.
The MEDI and the REV systems are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
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What is member transition and coordination of care?
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Member transition is defined as: Aetna Better Health® Premier Plan MMAI’s responsibility for transferring a member’s care into or out of Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI or assisting in the member’s transition from one practitioner or provider to another.
The purpose of Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI’s member transition is to provide a framework to guide Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI staff in taking appropriate steps. The objective is to continue a member’s care without interruption or delay during their transition into or out of Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI or between providers. Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI maintains effective transition of care activities to monitor and provide a full continuum of care approach to providing health care services to Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI members. This includes members who are currently under treatment for acute and chronic health conditions.
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What will the effective date be for the PCP change?
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The change will be effective immediately upon the request of a new PCP.
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How much notice do I need to give the member to transition to another provider?
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It should be the provider’s goal to medically manage members so they comply with treatment plans and attend scheduled appointments, rather than to transfer non-compliant members to another provider. Providers may refer non-compliant members to our Case Management department at 1-866-600-2139 to assist in promoting compliance by the member.
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What services am I required to provide while a member is transitioning to another provider?
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All medically necessary services, including prescribing needed medications until transition to new provider is complete. The transition of medical records and other necessary member information should be shared with the new provider as requested.
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Will a member receive a transition supply of medication(s) when they first become effective with the plan?
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From the date a member first becomes effective with Aetna Better Health® Premier Plan MMAI, the plan will provide up to a 90-day transition supply of medication(s). This transition supply will apply to medications that are either not on Aetna Better Health Premier Plan MMAI’s formulary or are on the formulary, but subject to prior authorization (PA) or other limits.
Each time a member fills a 30-day supply of the transition medication, a letter will be sent to the member and provider. Before the 90-day transition supply ends, we encourages providers to switch to a drug that is on our formulary.
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If I am a specialist, can I act as the member's PCP?
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For information on whether a specialist can act as a member's PCP, please call Provider Services at 1-866-600-2139.