Health Updates April 12, 2024

FY 2025 Budget

On April 10, 2024 the House Ways & Means Committee released its FY 25 budget. The big news for MassHealth members is that the HWM Committee listened to the voices of people with disabilities and service providers and rejected the Governor’s proposal to save $114 million in the $20.3 billion MassHealth budget by cutting Personal Care Attendant (PCA) services.

 Read MLRI’s Summary of the HWM budget here.

See budget amendments (due by 5 pm today & already 900+ and counting)  here

MATCH (Mitigating the Costs of Housing)

MATCH (Mitigating the Costs of Housing) is an ARPA-funded program for MassHealth managed care members moving back into community housing who formerly had no housing costs (for example people living in a homeless shelter, nursing home, group home or jail). It helps with the costs of setting up a new home but its funding is running down. No applications will be accepted after May 12 2024 and applications must be completed by July 12, 2024. These funds are distributed through MassHealth managed care plan and housing must be ready for move-in within 60 days. More information on MATCH is  here

MLRI Basic Benefit Training Series: Elder Benefit Training, April 30, 2023 9:30-4.

This annual training provides an overview of the key public benefit programs to help older adults meet their basic needs. Please share the flyer with your networks. Registration information from MCLE is here

 Update on MassHealth

 Update on MassHealth 90 day reconsideration for people who a. were terminated for procedural reasons at renewal --this could be for not returning the renewal form itself or for returning the renewal form but not returning proof requested in an RFI and b. Successfully completed renewal/reapplication within 90 days of the procedural termination and c. Based on completed renewal/reapplication still qualify for MassHealth –this includes someone who was on Standard + Senior Buy In (QMB) and now just qualifies for Senior Buy In (QMB).

If a.-c. apply, THEN the members are eligible to have the benefits they now qualify for reinstated back to the date of termination. To fill the gap they must call, succeed in getting through to MassHealth Enrollment Center and ask for 90 day reconsideration back to the date of termination. 90 day reconsideration is not the same as 3-month retro & supersedes the benefit effective date for QMB. It does not require proof of eligibility during the gap period. If not successful getting the gap filled, escalate to supervisor or SSU, appeal inaction, let us know. Vpulos@mlri.org and ksymmonds@mlri.org

 More Steward News:  

Info Gap Hinders HPC Review of Steward-Optum Deal (Sam Drysdale, State House News, April 11, 2024): Another state agency is counting itself among the public officials who say they do not have the information and records they need from Steward Health Care, as red flags have been raised around a potential deal to sell Steward's physician network to for-profit insurers Optum Care