What's new at MLS

On May 12, MassHealth posted notice of its intent to ask CMS for 3 amendments to the 1115 waiver.  It will accept public comments until June 12. The public notice, summary of the proposed amendments, and draft amendment request are posted here:…

DTA and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) have a special "Heat and Eat" Fuel Assistance program, or H-EAT. This program has helped thousands of elderly and disabled households qualify for higher SNAP benefits. We are writing to share some updates with the DTA…

DTA recently updated a number of materials in the DTA Online Guide (policy manual for DTA staff). These updates were sent to DTA staff and case managers on Friday, 3/31, and are important for community partners to know!  For example, it can be helpful to point directly to DTA policy…

MBTA Youth Pass In February the MBTA announced a special discount Youth Pass program for low-income youth who are not enrolled in a traditional high school (These discounts are already offered to high school students.) The Youth Pass program is for individuals under the age of 26 who are in…

Please see the MassHealth alert below written in High Bureaucratese.  Apparently there was a glitch from an unspecified date that was detected in early March and fixed on March 17 affecting an unspecified number of people being redetermined or under deadlines to return verification…

DTA has informed us that as of this morning BEACON (DTA's eligibility system) is down statewide. This means, for example, that workers cannot go in to look at case information or take other action on a case in the computer system. DTA has added language to the Assistance Line that there is a…

Press Release is posted here: https://www.mass.gov/news/masshealth-to-improve-management-of-long-term-services-and-supports For Immediate Release - February 28, 2017 MassHealth to Improve Management of Long-Term Services and Supports Contract with Optum Government Solutions, Inc. to…

On Feb 24, MassHealth released two notices of proposed changes to two different LTSS services: Adult Foster Care & Personal Care Attendant Services. Each is scheduled for a public hearing at U Mass in Worcester on different days. The AFC public hearing is March 17. The PCA public hearing…

Attached are two charts. The MLRI MassHealth Income Chart.  This chart factors in the 5% MAGI income deduction to the various poverty levels. The MassHealth Desk Guide.  The MassHealth version of the income chart without the 5% MAGI numbers factored in The charts…

Some upbeat news! We did not have a chance at yesterday's SNAP Coalition meeting to update folks on the great work being done by DTA and community orgs to launch a Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) in Massachusetts. HIP Project Director Frank Martinez-Nocito of DTA sent on the following…