Text Messaging Not Accepted Method of Substantive Contact for Section 13, Targeted Case Management (TCM) Services

Aug 19, 2024

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) wants to inform providers of TCM services under Section 13 of the MaineCare Benefits Manual (MBM) of the accepted methods for delivering services via Telehealth. Communication with MaineCare members by Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), or any other type of mobile or text messaging is not an accepted form of substantive contact.

All MaineCare services delivered via Telehealth must comply with Chapter I, Section 4 of the MBM. Please refer to this section of the MBM for applicable service definitions.

Text messaging is not a form of audio-only telephone communication, nor is it a form of real-time, interactive visual and audio telecommunication. Since text messaging does not meet the standard for Telephone or Interactive Telehealth Services, text messaging is not an approved form of delivering services via Telehealth.

Please contact your Provider Relations Specialist with questions.