Project name: - BlueCrossMN



Blue Cross is pleased to offer two medically-tailored meal programs in 2020 for our SecureBlue (MSHO) members residing in the community (Rate Cells A & B). Referral forms and other related information are available on the SecureBlue (MSHO) Supplemental Benefits page.

Post-Discharge Medically-Tailored Meal Program (benefit may be used once in a 12-month period)

• MSHO members discharged to home from an inpatient or short-term nursing home stay are eligible to receive two meals per day for a period of four weeks, and up to 120-minutes of nutrition education.

Chronic Condition Medically-Tailored Meal Program (benefit may be used once in a 12-month period)

• MSHO members with the following diagnoses are eligible to receive two meals per day for a period of twelve weeks, plus 150-minutes of nutrition education:

o Cancer

o Chronic Heart Failure (CHF)

o Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

o Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

o Diabetes

o End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis

o HIV/AIDS

o Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)

o Rheumatoid Arthritis

o Stroke

MEMBERS MAY QUALIFY FOR BOTH PROGRAMS. These members will receive two meals per day for a total of sixteen weeks and up to 150-minutes of nutrition education. Care Coordinators must submit two referral forms for these members; one to Mom’s Meals for the Post-Discharge Program and a second to Open Arms of Minnesota for the Chronic Condition Program.

Who are the service providers?

These programs are offered in partnership with Open Arms of Minnesota and Mom’s Meals.

• Open Arms of Minnesota will:

o Deliver meals to members participating in the Chronic Condition Medically-Tailored Meal Program.

o Provide nutrition education services to all participating members.

For questions related to Open Arms of Minnesota, please call 612-677-2576.

• Mom’s Meals will deliver meals to members participating in the Post-Discharge Medically-Tailored Meal Program.

For questions related to Mom’s Meals, please call the Mom’s Meals Intake Team at 1-866-224-9485.

How to refer your members to the Chronic Condition Medically-Tailored Meals Program

Care Coordinators should inform all eligible members that their MSHO benefits include medically-tailored meals and nutrition education designed to help them manage their chronic condition.

1. Complete the Open Arms of Minnesota referral form and submit via secure email to referrals@ or FAX to 612-872-0866.

2. Open Arms will automatically offer nutrition education to all members participating in the chronic condition program.

Note: You do not need to enter a Service Authorization in Bridgeview for Open Arms of Minnesota.

To ensure all eligible members are informed of the chronic condition meal benefit, Open Arms of Minnesota will support you in reaching out to and enrolling members. Please make every effort to respond to Open Arms’ requests for member information in a timely manner. There are two ways for a member to enroll in the Chronic Condition Medically Tailored Meals Program – through their care coordinator or directly through Open Arms:

How to refer your members to the Post-Discharge Medically-Tailored Meals Program

Care Coordinators should notify eligible members during the Transitions of Care (TOC) process that home-delivered meals and nutrition education are part of their benefit set. The benefit referral form(s)* should be submitted within 7 business days of the member returning home.

1. Complete the Mom’s Meals referral form and submit via secure email to CTintake@.

2. Enter Service Agreement in Bridgeview.

3. Complete the Open Arms of Minnesota referral form, checking the box for Nutrition Education, and submit via secure email to referrals@.

Note: If member also qualifies for the chronic condition program you can complete the entire Open Arms of Minnesota referral form.

To ensure all eligible members are informed of the post-discharge meal benefit, Open Arms of Minnesota will support you in reaching out to and enrolling members. Please make every effort to respond to Open Arms’ requests for member information in a timely manner.

FAQ

Can members participate more than once?

No, per CMS guidelines members are limited to participating in each of the programs once per year.

Why should members consider participating in the Medically-Tailored Meals & Nutrition Education Programs?

Healthy eating is an important part of ongoing condition management. Meals low in sodium, saturated fat and sugar and high in fiber help support improved health outcomes for members diagnosed with heart conditions, diabetes, or other chronic diseases.

Research shows that patients who receive adequate nutrition after a hospitalization are much less likely to experience a readmission.

• Malnourished patients are twice as likely to be readmitted to the hospital[i]

• 39% fewer people are readmitted when receiving meals post-discharge[ii]

The Medically-Tailored Meals & Nutrition Programs are designed to support MSHO members in making sustained dietary changes to better manage their health:

• Members will receive meals tailored to help manage their diagnoses; menus include low-sodium, heart-friendly, diabetes-friendly and gluten-free options.

• Nutrition education will be provided by a licensed dietitian and will include coaching on how to shop for and cook foods that meet the member’s dietary needs.

• Receiving meals along with nutrition education will help the member to understand appropriate portion sizes and healthy ingredient choices.

• Members who qualify for meals through Elderly Waiver will also benefit by learning more about how to choose the right meal provider and menu options to better manage their health condition.

When and how will the meals be delivered?

Fourteen (14) meals will be delivered on a weekly basis. For the Post-Discharge Program, the first delivery will occur within 72 hours (3 days) of intake being completed. For the Chronic Condition Program, the first delivery will occur within 5 to 10 business days of intake being completed.

Meals may be delivered by an Open Arms or Mom’s Meals driver or by FedEx depending on the member’s location.

What are the meals like?

Depending on the reason for the member’s hospitalization or their current health condition, they may receive meals low in sodium, saturated fat or sugar, or that are high in fiber. The meals are designed to be both nutritious and delicious. Members will have an opportunity to share any dietary preferences, restrictions, or allergies when they complete their intake. Meals can be heated in a microwave or regular oven.

How will the nutrition education calls work?

A licensed dietitian from Open Arms of Minnesota will provide nutrition education services to all participating members, regardless of the program they participate in. Nutrition education will typically occur by phone. If a member lives in Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Carver, Scott, or Anoka county, they may elect to have the dietitian visit their home. Nutrition education calls typically last 30 minutes. The dietitian is available between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday. The dietitian will work with the member to set up a time that fits their schedule.

Do members have to participate in the nutrition education calls?

No, members are not required to participate in nutrition education to receive the meals. However, receiving nutrition education along with the meals will help the member to understand how the meals demonstrate appropriate portion sizes and healthy ingredient choices.

Have other questions?

Please contact your Partner Relations Consultant: partner.relations@.

Open Arms is an independent non-profit (501c3) providing home-delivered medically-tailored meals and nutrition services.

Mom’s Meals NourishCare® is an independent company providing home-delivered, refrigerated meal services.

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[i] Thomas, D. R., Zdrowski, C. D., Wilson, M. M., Conright, K. C., Lewis, C., Tariq, S., & Morley, J. E. (2002). Malnutrition in subacute care. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 75(2), 308-313.

[ii] FMQAI, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization of Florida, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Presentation: Results from the ACL 2010 ADRC Care Transition Program and CMS Investments

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Medically-Tailored meals & nutrition education

Referral Instructions for Care Coordinators

Open Arms receives outreach list of members diagnosed with qualifying conditions from Blue Plus

Care Coordinator has annual discussion with members about supplemental benefits

Open Arms emails Care Coordinator prior to conducting outreach to request helpful information, including factors that may make the member ineligible for the program (e.g. the member receives meals from their Assisted Living Facility or they reside in a Nursing Home)

Care Coordinator informs eligible members of chronic condition medically-tailored meals program

Care Coordinator submits completed Open Arms referral form

Open Arms mails letter and brochure to eligible members then calls to offer to enroll them in the benefit

Open Arms notifies Care Coordinator of enrollment. Care Coordinator submits completed Open Arms referral form.

Open Arms receives admission/discharge information

Care Coordinator receives admission/discharge information

Care Coordinator informs eligible members of post-discharge supplemental benefits, including home-delivered meals during the TOC process

Open Arms emails Care Coordinator alerting them to member discharge

• If Open Arms does not receive a referral form within 24 hours of sending email, Open Arms will follow up with a call to the CC.

• If CC does not respond to call within 24 hours, Open Arms will reach out to the member directly to help them enroll in the post-discharge benefit.

• Open Arms will notify Care Coordinator of member’s interest in enrollment and request that the Care Coordinator submit completed referral forms.

Care Coordinator submits completed Mom’s Meals referral form AND Open Arms referral form*

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