What's new at MLS

We have a number of updates, information, and action alerts this week. Oppose Efforts in Congress to Cut/Gut Federal Food Assistance Programs Please join FRAC and thousands of national, state, and local organizations representing communities across the country urging Congress to reject…

Hands Off Medicaid Day of Action This Thursday, February 6 is a national Day of Action to protect Medicaid. The new administration, in concert with Congress, plans massive cuts to Medicaid that will strip health insurance away from millions of people across the country. In Massachusetts, our…

I’m writing about two sets of upcoming deadlines:  (1)   Deadlines to apply for the one-time IRS stimulus payments, authorized by the CARES Act, of up to $1200 for eligible adults and $500 per qualified child (also known as the Economic Impact Payment (EIP)): Sept. 30 for…

We have two piece of BIG news in P-EBT land:   1.  P-EBT for September:  DTA and DESE pursued and were approved for September P-EBT benefits for Massachusetts students. This includes P-EBT for the delayed start of schools as well as P-EBT for any children in remote learning…

MassHealth has operated under a comprehensive 1115 Demonstration program for most people under 65 and not needing nursing home care since 1997. The 1115 Demo has been renewed at 3 to 5 year intervals ever since then.  The current demonstration authorization period runs from July 1,…

Thank you to all of you who joined yesterday’s Zoom call.  102 participants! Wow, we figured you were all vacationing. It was a pleasure to have you on the call along with our national partners from FRAC. THANK YOU for all you do to serve low income Massachusetts…

MassHealth has sent out notices to people now enrolled in Basic and Essential as  well as some people now in Comm. Care or the Health Safety Net about their coverage changing to MassHealth CarePlus on Jan. 1.   People with disabilities or other special health care needs can choose to…

We just received word from the Commissioner's office that they have agreed to issue overnight EBT cards to any SNAP recipients whose EBT photo card did not reach them and their current blue card is not active or the envelope was returned to DTA by the postal service as undeliverable. As you…

At the SNAP Coalition meeting on Tuesday we heard from DTA that the Social Security Administration (SSA) is currently updating databases that DTA workers use to verify Social Security (also called RSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The update will continue through…

1.  Changes to Virtual Gateway SNAP/MassHealth Combo Apps due to Health Care Reform:  We are writing to let SNAP Coalition Members know that the MassHealth Virtual Gateway (VG) portal will be converting to the new health care exchange portal or ConnectorCare system…