TO: DBHDD Community Behavioral Health Providers
 
FROM: Melissa Sperbeck,  Deputy Chief of Staff
 
DATE: November 23, 2015
 
RE: Georgia Collaborative ASO:  Go Live
 
As previously announced, DBHDD and the Georgia Collaborative ASO will implement a community behavioral health authorization system on December 1, 2015.  We would like to extend our gratitude to the members of the provider network for the continued partnership and patience as we have worked together to apply this system-wide change.  This new system will support our collective efforts to provide easy access to high-quality care that leads to a life of recovery and independence for the individuals we serve. 
 
As communicated in trainings sessions to date, there will be a period of down time (December 1-10) during the transition from the APS Healthcare system to the Georgia Collaborative ASO.  While the effective go-live date of the Collaborative is December 1, 2015, providers will begin entering information into the authorization system, Provider CONNECT, on December 11, 2015.  
  • Outpatient providers will hold authorization requests and encounter submission until December 11, 2015. 
  • CSU, PRTF, CME, Inpatient, and Residential Detox providers will have a period of work-around processes that have been outlined in trainings to date. 
  • All authorizations that have been processed by APS Healthcare as of November 30, 2015 will be honored by the Georgia Collaborative.
  • Provider Connect and batch processes will be available for use on December 11, 2015. 
Additional details related to these processes can be found in this quick reference guide .

* DBHDD is aware of an outstanding issue with APS authorizations for specific services.  APS, DBHDD and DCH are working collaboratively to resolve these issues.  Additional information will be provided as available.

We will be hosting a series of Q&A sessions throughout December.  Providers are encouraged to register for appropriate sessions.  Information related to these opportunities will be posted on the Collaborative's training page:  http://www.georgiacollaborative.com/providers/prv-trn.html .
 
Providers are also encouraged to check the Georgia Collaborative's website at www.georgiacollaborative.com for frequent updates.  In particular, the Provider Corner section on the front page will include information related to the launch. 

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Easy access to high-quality care that leads to a life of recovery and independence for the people we serve.