What's new at MLS

As you know, the new computer eligibility system is still broken & MassHealth continues to refine the "work-arounds" to provide benefits in the meantime. Until recently most non-citizens who do not have an eligible immigration status, applied for benefits after Jan. 1, 2014 & were…

Did you know that there are 880 elementary and secondary schools in Massachusetts - of nearly 2,000 schools - that have high percentages of low income students and could be providing free breakfast and lunches to ALL students in the school or throughout the school district? Community…

Hospital presumptive eligibility. A May MassHealth provider bulletin describes coverage under a new process called hospital-determined presumptive eligibility. Participating hospitals can make a preliminary decision that someone is likely to be eligible for MassHealth Standard, or CarePlus…

An important announcement from the Massachusetts Health Care Training Forum on how children receiving (AA) assistance or temporary coverage can receive behavioral health services:   See the May 2014 MassHealth All Provider Bulletin 245 for information on how…

MLRI recently became aware of a number of SNAP web applications denied for lack of verification of residence, even though the applicant submitted a current RMV license or state ID.  SNAP Coalition members also flagged this problem at the May 20th Coalition meeting. Under…

See email from Frank Martinez-Nocito re rescheduling of event due to foul weather.  If you would like to get updates on this and other events, please send Frank your email.  frank.martineznocito@state.ma.us   Separately, there was a small error in the EBT photo flier…

We have continued to receive calls and emails from community organizations and/or SNAP recipients directly who have received SNAP termination notices. We have been called by employers who were asked to produce verification for persons that have not worked for them.  We have seen a flurry of…

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Press Release Contact: Kim Haberlin – 617-470-9686 Claire Cooper – 617-921-6870 STATE WILL PURSUE DUAL TRACK TO PREPARE HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE WEBSITE FOR FALL 2014 OPEN ENROLLMENT Sarah Iselin, Optum to present responsible…

We are writing to alert you to two recent Operations Memos where DTA has decided that when SNAP benefits are not being used fast enough or are "un-accessed" - DTA has a process for first taking the SNAP benefits "offline" and, if they remain un-accessed,…

DTA has issued new guidance, Operations Memo 2014-24, that changes how DTA confirms information they get about a SNAP or cash recipient's new job, an increase in wages or a problem with a Social Security number (SSN).  DTA typically gets wage information from the…