Turquoise Care

Turquoise Care Overview

Turquoise Care is the new name for the New Mexico Medicaid Managed Care program that began on July 1, 2024. For more information on applying for Medicaid, please visit website: www.yes.state.nm.us/ or call 1-800-283-4465.

*Community Benefit Program In-Home and Community-Based Supports (Community Benefit Program)

Community Benefit Program - New Mexico Health Care Authority (nm.gov)

Frequently asked questions: MAD-792-CB-Brochure-2024-Revised-7.01.24.pdf (nm.gov)

Self Directed Choices
Self Directed Choices

History of Turquoise Care

Turquoise Care is the new name for the New Mexico Medicaid Managed Care program that began on July 1, 2024. For more information on applying for Medicaid, please visit website: www.yes.state.nm.us/ or call 1-800-283-4465.

What does Turquoise Care mean to you?

When you receive Medicaid, you select a Managed Care Organization (MCO):

Available MCOs include: 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico

Molina Healthcare of New Mexico

Presbyterian Health Plan

United Healthcare Community Plan of New Mexico

How to access Turquoise Care

The person selects their MCO when they enroll in Medicaid (or complete the annual Medicaid recertification). Then the MCO assigns a Care Coordinator. The Care Coordinator does a phone assessment which assigns Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 to the Member. The assigned level relates to service and support needs.

When a person has Level 2 or Level 3 this means they need more services and may be eligible for Agency Based Community Benefit (ABCB) or after receiving ABCB for 120 days they can access Self-Directed Community Benefit (SDCB). Self-Directed Choices (SDC) provides Support Broker services and supports to members on Self-Directed Community Based services and supports.

If you receive the Developmental Disabilities Waiver, Medical Fragile, Mi Via Waiver or Supports Waiver the MCO will provide your medical resources and supports.

Although, if you don’t receive one of the above Waivers you may qualify for Agency-Based Community Benefit (ABCB) services and supports and Self Directed Community Benefit (SDCB) services and supports.

Under either model, the services available are determined by the funding or reimbursement options that your program has access to. For example, if state programs, such as Medicaid, play a large role in your program's funding, allowable services will be influenced by your state's definition of allowable services.

Self-Directed Community Benefit

  • Self Directed Community Based (SDCB) services and supports are intended to provide a community-based alternative to institutional care that facilitates greater member choice, direction and control over covered services and supports.
  • Philosophy of Self Direction Self-direction: is a tool that leads to self-determination, through which members can have greater control over their lives and have more freedom to lead a meaningful life in the community.
  • Within the context of SDCB, self-direction means members choose which covered services they need, as identified in the most recent Comprehensive Needs Assessment.
  • Members also decide when, where and how those SDCB covered services will be provided and who they want to provide them.
  • Members decide who they want to assist them with planning and managing their SDCB covered services within a managed care environment.

Self-direction means members have more choice, control, flexibility, freedom and responsibility in directing their Community Benefits.

SDCB Care Plan Development Processes

The SDCB care plan development process starts with person-centered planning. In person-centered planning, the SDCB care plan must revolve around the individual SDCB member and reflect his/her chosen lifestyle, cultural, functional, and social needs for successful community living. The goal of the SDCB care plan development process is for the SDCB member to achieve a meaningful life in the community, as defined by the SDCB member.

Turquoise Care Manual

For more information click here

Self-Directed Community Benefits (SDCB)

The SDCB is intended to provide a community-based alternative to institutional care that facilitates greater member choice, direction and control over covered services and supports. For this section of the Manual, the terms “member”, “care plan”, “services” and “providers” refer to SDCB.

HCBS shall meet the following standards:

  • Are integrated and support full access of individuals receiving Medicaid HCBS to the greater community, including opportunities to seek employment, and work in competitive integrated settings, engage in community life, control personal resources, and receive services in the community, to the same degree of access as individuals not receiving Medicaid HCBS;
  • Are selected by the individual from among setting options including non-disability specific settings. The setting options are identified and documented in the person-centered service plan and are based on the individual’s needs and preferences;
  • Ensure an individual’s rights of privacy, dignity and respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint;
  • Optimize, but do not regiment, individual initiative, autonomy, and independence in making life choices, including but not limited to, daily activities, physical environment, and with whom to interact; and
  • Facilitate individual choice regarding services and supports, and who provides them.

CMS will take the following factors into account when determining whether a setting may have the effect of isolating individuals receiving Medicaid HCBS form the broader community of individuals not receiving HCBS:

  • Due to the design or model of service provision in the setting, individuals have limited, if any, opportunities for interaction in and with the broader community, including with individuals not receiving Medicaid funded HCBS. Opportunities as well as identified supports to provide access to and participation in the broader community, should be reflected in both the individuals’ person-centered service plans and policies and practices of the setting in accordance with 42 CFR 441.301(c)(1)(3) and (4)(vi)(F), 42 CFR 441.530(a)(1)(vi)(F) and 441.540, and 42 CFR 441.710(a)(1)(vi)(F) and 441.725;
  • The setting restricts beneficiary choice to receive services or to engage in activities outside of the setting; or
  • The setting is physically located separate and apart from the broader community and does not facilitate beneficiary opportunity to access the broader community and participate in community services, consistent with the beneficiary’s person-centered service plan.
Self Directed Choices

What is a Comprehensive Needs Assessment?

CNAs must be performed through the utilization of an assessment tool that has been approved by HSD for assessing the member’s medical/PH, BH, LTC, and social needs. The assessment tool may include the identification of targeted needs related to improving health, functional outcomes, or quality of life outcomes (e.g., related to targeted health education, pharmacy management, or increasing and/or maintaining functional abilities, including provision of covered services). Any changes to the assessment tool must be approved by HSD 30 calendar days prior to use by the MCO or its delegate. The CNA must be conducted in the member’s primary place of residence or facility for members reintegrating back into the community.

Self Directed Choices
Self Directed Choices

Self-Directed Choices serves you as a Support Broker?

Self-Directed Choices contracts with Blue Cross/Blue Shield New Mexico (BCBSNM), Molina Health Care, United Healthcare and Presbyterian (PRES) Members. We provide Support Broker services to Members to educate, assist and guide them in developing and accessing their individual Self Directed Community Based (SDCB) Plans.

Self-Directed Choices provides Person-Centered Planning and Monitoring by

  • Contacting you within 5 days of receiving your selection form

  • Scheduling your Enrollment Meeting within thirty (30) calendar days to Educate you on SDCB services

  • Check in with you and the Care Coordinator to submit the Care Plan thirty (30) calendar days before the begin date.

  • Guide you to setup services and supports which are approved on the SDCB Care Plan and Budget.

  • Check in with the Member Monthly to answer any questions, provide additional assistance and supports.

  • Quarterly In-Person Visits except during Public Health Emergencies

  • Assist you with Monitoring Spending Reports

  • Meet with you and Care Coordinator to complete annual SDCB Care Plan and Comprehensive Needs Assessment

  • Annual Working Plan Shell opened within 90 calendar days from the expiration of the current plan

  • Annual SDCB Care Plan submitted within 30 calendar days of the expiration of the current SDCB Care Plan

Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) who provide Centennial Care services to their members: