What's new at MLS

We hope you are enjoying this lovely October day.  A few things on the horizon for today and next week. SNAP Coalition Meeting – Tuesday, October 26th Our next (4th Tuesday) SNAP Coalition meeting is Tuesday, October 26th from 10 to 11:30 AM.  Here’s the meeting…

For Immediate Release - June 20, 2014 Patrick Administration Announces Steps to Ensure Equity in Health Care Coverage for Gender Dysphoria BOSTON The Patrick Administration today announced reforms to health care insurance coverage to ensure that Massachusetts residents who need transgender…

The clock is ticking - June 30th is the deadline for School Districts to notify the Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) they wish to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and provide free lunch and breakfast to all children in one or more schools,…

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…

The latest news from the Health Connector & MassHealth- coverage in Commonwealth Care and Medical Security Plan extended to June 30; temporary coverage for people who applied for subsidized insurance in January 2014 and a "fast path" for people with unsubsidized…

At 2:35 PM today, the United States Senate voted to pass the "Farm Bill" or Agricultural Act of 2014. The Act includes $8.6B in cuts to the SNAP program, cuts which can potentially affect up to 125,000 Massachusetts SNAP households, many of whom are seniors and persons with disabilities,…