MD Health Benefit Exchange will recognize SBHCs as ECPs

MASBHC is pleased to announce that we have achieved a major victory in our campaign to secure the recognition of school-based health centers (SBHCs) as Essential Community Providers (ECP). On Monday, January 25, the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange endorsed MASBHC’s proposal to recognize SBHCs as ECPs. Since health plans must have 30% of all ECPs in their networks, health insurers will now have an incentive to contract with SBHCs. The ECP requirement will go into effect for Exchange plans starting in January 2017.  MASBHC will be working hard with SBHC networks in the upcoming year to implement this innovative new policy.  Maryland is only the 5th state to recognize SBHCs as ECPs.