Office-based Buprenorphine Treatment
Buprenorphine Enhanced Medication Assisted Recovery and Treatment (BESMART) Program
BESMART was developed in 2019 to be a specialized, high quality provider network delivering comprehensive care to TennCare members with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), including medications for OUD.
- Must be a TennCare provider.
- Must have a specific contract with each Managed Care Organization (MCO) for BESMART.
- Must complete the BESMART attestation, attesting to the BESMART program description.
Not yet a TennCare provider? Visit Provider Registration to learn more.
BESMART Program Description
The following are benefits for providers in the BESMART program:
- Clinical and care coordination support from MCOs
- Increased data on quality and health outcomes
- Enhanced reimbursement from the MCOs for defined BESMART services
- Access to monoproduct buprenorphine
- Shortened Prior Authorization Form
Buprenorphine Prior Authorization Form
Note: The Prior Authorization Form can be submitted via fax or electronically. It cannot be submitted over the phone.
Please contact OptumRx with questions or feedback.
OptumRx Call Center
Phone: 1-866-434-5524
- Members can access increased buprenorphine treatment dosage options through BESMART providers
TennCare members who receive OUD treatment by a BESMART Provider will be eligible to receive buprenorphine product coverage with the following daily dosage limits:
- Up to 16mg of buprenorphine products per day throughout induction, stabilization, and maintenance phases as medically necessary
- If specific clinical criteria are met, may receive a maximum daily dosage of 24mg of buprenorphine products for the defined length of time established in in the clinical criteria
The following describe the steps to become a BESMART provider:
- Understand the program description and evaluate your current care model
BESMART Program Description
- Identify any potential gaps or areas for increased support from MCOs
- Obtain a Medicaid Provider ID (if needed)
- Indicate interest in joining BESMART and ability to meet program standard
For contracting questions:
Wellpoint: WLPBESMART@wellpoint.com
BlueCare: MAT_Referral_CM_UM@bcbst.com
UnitedHealthcare: SE_Government_Programs@uhc.com
- Contract as a BESMART provider with appropriate MCO(s) to join network
- Continue to provide high-quality MOUD care to TennCare members
Not yet a TennCare provider? Visit Provider Registration to learn more.
As outlined As outlined in TCA § 53-11-311, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) must participate in at least one MCO’s network of BESMART providers in order to be reimbursed for the prescription of buprenorphine.
To be eligible to contract with TennCare as a BESMART Provider, a NP or PA must also meet the following criteria:
- Contracted in the BESMART Program
- Has a supervising physician that is contract within the MCO’s BESMART Program
- Specializes in family, adult, or psychiatric medicine
- Employed in an approved setting as outlined in state law
- Follows member limits according to the legislation
For contracting questions:
For contracting questions:
- Wellpoint: WLPBESMART@wellpoint.com
- BlueCare: MAT_Referral_CM_UM@bcbst.com
- UnitedHealthcare: SE_Government_Programs@uhc.com
For prescribing questions:
- OptumRx: TNRxEducation@optum.com
Referrals to Behavioral Health Services
Tips for searching for a community mental health center:
- Click the Provider Portal link above.
- Select Find Care.
- Scroll down and Select Basic search as a guest.
- Follow the prompts.
- Enter location and search information in text box Community Mental Health Center.
Tips for searching for an outpatient substance use disorder provider:
- Repeat the first four steps above.
- Enter location and search information in text box There are options to search by specialty such as, Behavioral/substance use providers. You can also search by care provider using the radio buttons provided.
BlueCare Tennessee Provider Directory
Tips for searching for a community mental health center:
- Click the Provider Directory link above.
- Change All Networks to BlueCare.
- To narrow the search, enter your City, State and Zip Code.
- Search for Behavioral Health Facility.
Tips for searching for an Outpatient Substance Use Disorder provider:
- Repeat the four steps above.
- Click the More Filters option and select Expertise.
- Select the appropriate category from the drop-down list.
- To search for Child/Adolescent it is listed as Outpatient Substance Use Disorder (Adolescent).
- To search for Adult it is listed as Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counseling Adult.
United Healthcare Provider Directory
Tips for searching for a community mental health center:
- Click the Provider Directory link above.
- Click Find a Provider
- Select Behavioral Health Directory
- Select Medicaid Plans.
- Select a State/Choose
- Select United Healthcare Community Plan TennCare
- Change location: adding specific region or address.
- Select Places
- Select Mental Health Programs
Tips for searching for an Outpatient Substance Use Disorder provider:
- Repeat the first eight steps above.
- Select Substance Use Disorders.
- For more specific provider details (general overview, ages, locations, hours, services, and websites/hyperlinks) click on the selected provider, then select “locations” and “programs”.
Are you concerned that your patients need:
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
- Assistance with behavioral health appointments/resources
- Assistance with scheduling a follow-up appointment with a primary care provider
- Additional information about their health care benefits
- Advocacy and assistance in finding health care specialists
- MCO-level case management because they are chronically ill
MOUD Provider Referral Information
Wellpoint Portal for MOUD Providers
Tips for searching for a Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Provider:
- Click the Provider Portal link above.
- Select Patient Care.
- Click Behavioral Health and scroll down to Related Information – choose MAT Providers for in-network BESMART provider list.
Provider assistance with member referrals:
For referrals to the Behavioral Health Case Management Team contact Provider Services: 833-731-2154
Follow Prompts and select Case Management.
Behavioral Health Case Management referrals can also be sent to: WLPBehavioralHealthRef@wellpoint.com
BlueCare Tennessee Portal for MOUD Providers
Tips for searching for a Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Provider:
- Click the BlueCross Provider link above.
- Choose BlueCare Network.
- Enter your location.
- Choose Medication-Assisted Treatment.
- You may need to expand the distance to 50 miles for some remote areas.
- Doctors have limited waivers and availability will fluctuate, so providing multiple options is possible.
MOUD Provider Referral Line:
800-814-8936
United Healthcare Portal for MOUD Providers
Tips for searching for a Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) provider:
- Click the link above.
- Select Find a Provider
- Select Behavioral Health Directory
- Select Medicaid Plans
- Select Tennessee
- Select United Healthcare Community Plan TennCare
- Change location
- In search bar type: Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Select Treatment/ Therapy Methods-Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- In order to produce accurate results choose the phrase above (not other options or ALL CAPS option)
- View by Provider or facility tab
- Select specific provider to obtain additional details (e.g., locations, area of expertise, hours, ages, etc.)
Provider Services:
800-690-1606
- Press 8 if this is related to behavioral health or substance use.
- Say "Yes" if you are a provider, state your reason for calling (e.g., find a provider for referral).
- Enter the member's identification number.
TennCare Managed Care Organization Contacts for Complex Cases
Note: Use this information if your patients have challenging medical and behavioral health conditions and you need additional assistance locating an inpatient or outpatient provider.
If you need help scheduling an outpatient appointment for a patient with complex medical or behavioral health needs, please contact the member’s TennCare MCO.
For complex case referrals, contact Provider Services: 833-731-2149
Email referrals to case management: WLPBehavioralHealthRef@wellpoint.com
Referral Line:
888-416-3025
Provider Services:
800-690-1606
Email referrals to case management: tn_case_management@uhc.com
Inpatient Assistance:
If you need assistance with discharge planning, contact your assigned UHC Utilization Nurse and they can refer you to a Discharge Care Manager.
Member Contact Information
Are you a TennCare member and are interested in receiving behavioral health services? See below contact information.
Member Services:
800-690-1606
For questions, members may select “Contact Us” at the lower portion of the screen to be directed to frequently asked questions or chat option.