What's new at MLS

The FY 2025 budget is now before the Senate. Debate will begin next week. Over 1100 amendments were submitted last week. This week many Senators will be deciding which amendments  to co-sponsor and/or speaking to Senate leadership about amendments they support. This makes it…

Time sensitive action alerts below!  Quick reminder that our May SNAP Coalition meeting will be on Tuesday, May 21 from 10-11:30 (a week earlier than normal due to Memorial Day). Here is the Zoom link. Agenda to come.  Contact Senators ASAP and ask to Co-Sponsor Core…

1. FY 2025 Budget On May 7, the Senate Ways & Means Committee released its budget bill. MLRI's preliminary summary of the budget is posted here. We're happy to report that SWM, like the House, rejects the Governor's proposal to cut the PCA program.    Amendments are due…

A couple of quick updates from the front lines:  MLRI Analysis of Senate Ways and Means FY25 Budget Here’s a link to MLRI’s analysis of selected sections of the Senate Ways and Means (SWM) FY25 proposed budget released on Tuesday.  MLRI’s analysis focuses on a range of key…

Please add your organization to a sign on letter to the Massachusetts Delegation OPPOSING cuts to the SNAP program!  Deadline: Monday, May 13th.    What’s on the table?  Last week, members of Congress released very different frameworks for their vision of the…

On May 6, 2024, Steward Health Care System LLC and 166 of its affiliated debtors  each filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The Steward website directs people to this website with more…

FY 2025 Budget The Senate Ways & Means budget for FY 2025 is due out next Tuesday. One important issue affecting MassHealth is whether the Senate will agree with the House to block the cuts to the PCA program proposed by the Governor. Our friends at 1199 SEIU have set up a website with…

Health Care Working Group Meeting Wed April 24 3-4:30 pm The zoom link should be in your calendars. At this month’s meeting we’ve invited  the consultants working with MassHealth  on development of a  new Member Advisory Committee (MAC) to discuss the work…

Reminder: Coalition meeting tomorrow, 4/23 from 10-11:30 Zoom link here. Agenda will include: State Budget updates - FY25 House budget & FY24 Supp Budget: Where we are in the process and next steps.   DTA updates - end to state SNAP benefits for…

Great news! CMS approved the amendments to the 1115 Demonstration today!    EOHHS's press release is here listing some of the key changes.   Changes include 90 days of pre-release services for MassHealth members who are incarcerated (MA will be the 4th state…