Health Announce: September 23, 2024

09/23/24

Happy Fall!

It’s official – autumn has arrived. Yesterday at 08:44 am EDT marked the autumnal equinox, and the sun crossed the celestial equator.  If you missed a chance to mark the occasion, you can enjoy an Extreme Moonset – the earliest setting of the moon during this year of the major lunar standstill – tomorrow starting around 2:15 pm.

Topics for this week’s Health Announce:

  1. Stand in Solidarity with the Haitian Community!
  2. The Health Care Workgroup meets this Wednesday.
  3. Reminder – Applications for MassHealth’s Member Advisory Committee due this Friday by 5 pm.
  4. MassHealth proposes regulations for new benefit – Homeless Medical Respite Services.

Be well, 

 

Jennifer Hotchkiss Kaplan

Senior Health Law Attorney

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

 

 

1. Stand in Solidarity with the Haitian Community!

Tomorrow, Tuesday September 24 at noon, there will be a rally in support of the Haitian Community at the Embrace Boston Monument. We invite you to stand in solidarity with the Haitian Community and unite against discrimination.  The Embrace Boston Monument is located on the Boston Common at 139 Tremont Street.

 

 

 

2. The Health Care Workgroup meets this Wednesday.

This Wednesday, September 25 at 3 pm, the Health Care Workgroup meets to discuss recent proposals MassHealth has floated to simplify eligibility. These proposed initiatives fall into four categories: (1) simplifying application, (2) reducing financial barriers, (3) ensuring equitable benefit access for the non-MAGI population, and (4) improving access to community living for members needing long-term care. Also, we will host a brief presentation from the Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice about their Homeless Youth Legal Network.

 

 

3. Reminder – Applications for MassHealth’s Member Advisory Committee  due this Friday by 5 pm.

Current and former MassHealth members are invited to apply to join the MassHealth Member Advisory Committee (MAC).  Guardians and family caregivers are also encouraged to apply. MAC members will work with MassHealth to advise them on policy development and program implementation, as well as assist in identifying priorities for MassHealth. MAC members can attend in person, by phone, or by computer (like Zoom). Travel to in-person meetings will be reimbursed; pre-paid transportation options may be available; stipends are available for those who choose to receive them (advisable only for members for whom the stipend income will not impact their eligibility for public benefits).

MassHealth has provided this flyer about the MAC to share with your networks.

 

 

4. MassHealth proposes regulations for new benefit – Homeless Medical  Respite Services.

Last week, MassHealth issued proposed regulations for homeless medical respite services.  The regulations, 130 CMR 458.000, establish the new MassHealth provider type and new MassHealth covered services for homeless medical respite services, as well as set forth definitions, processes for enrollment and minimum requirements for providers, and eligibility criteria for members. The remote public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held on October 9, 2024, at 2pm.  To testify at the public hearing, you must register online here.   

The notice of public hearing also included proposed amendments to 130 CMR 450.000 to add homeless medical respite services and doula services as covered services under the applicable MassHealth coverage types. A separate notice of public hearing will be issued for the new proposed rate regulations for homeless medical respite services under 101 CMR 321.000.