EOHHS

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) is the largest secretariat in the commonwealth, responsible for the Medicaid program, child welfare, public health, disabilities, veterans’ affairs, and elder affairs. Under the direction of the Secretary of Health & Human Services, EOHHS oversees the numerous state agencies involved in providing services to these populations in Massachusetts. MHA represents its members’ interests before these agencies and with the secretariat itself, educating and advocating on matters of vital importance to hospitals, health systems, and other care providers.
10.01.2018  | 2019 RFA Goes into Effect on November 1
The 2019 acute care hospital Request for Application was released last week and will take effect November 1.
09.17.2018  | Secretary Sudders Announces Creation of Sepsis Consortium
In recognition of World Sepsis Day, HHS Secretary Marylou Sudders marked World Sepsis Day by announcing the creation of the Massachusetts Sepsis Consortium.
07.23.2018  | Proposed State Budget Passes Legislature, Sent to Governor
The Massachusetts Legislature approved a $41.88 billion FY2019 state budget last Wednesday and sent it to Governor Baker.
07.02.2018  | CMS Responds to Massachusetts Medicaid Waiver Requests
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services responded to the state’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver request that had been filed last September.
04.23.2018  | Three Hospital Priorities for FY2019 House Budget Debate
Debate begins today on the Massachusetts House Ways & Means Committee’s state budget proposal for FY 2019.
04.16.2018  | MassHealth ACO Program Continues to Evolve
MassHealth continues to tweak its sweeping Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program that went live in March.
03.26.2018  | State Funding for Primary Care Providers Needing ACO Help
EOHHS announced a new opportunity for primary care providers seeking to participate in the new MassHealth ACO program.
02.26.2018  | New MassHealth ACO Program: Working to Ensure Continuity of Care
As of March 1, 2018, approximately 1.2 million MassHealth managed-care members will have a new set of plan options in which to enroll.
02.19.2018  | MassHealth ACO Program Begins March 1
The MassHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program begins on Thursday, March 1.
02.12.2018  | DMH Expedited Psych Inpatient Admissions Policy Goes Into Effect
A statewide initiative to address ED boarding of patients needing inpatient psychiatric care has gone into effect.
01.29.2018  | MassHealth Reform Revisited in Governor’s State Budget Proposal
Last Wednesday, Governor Charlie Baker released a $40.9 billion FY19 state budget proposal.
01.22.2018  | Baker Testifies on His Opioid Bill; MHA Offers Strong Support
Governor Charlie Baker and EOHHS Secretary Marylou Sudders on the governor’s major bill to stem the opioid epidemic.
01.15.2018  | SIFs May Work in Mass. But Federal Law is Impediment
There may be a big roadblock to creating supervised injection facilities (SIFs) in Massachusetts – the federal government.
01.15.2018  | Baker Tweet from Beverly: Importance of EDs to Opioid Fight
Governor Charlie Baker was at Beverly Hospital last Thursday as part of his tour to drum up support for his second major opioid bill.
12.19.2017  | SB1174 etal Omnibus Healthcare Facilities Testimony
SB1174, HB1181/SB1183, SB1269, HB1136, HB1137, HB1207, HB3250, SB1248, SB1270, HB1175, HB1197, SB1230, HB2441, HB2477, HB3514, SB1212, SB1234 Healthcare Facilities
10.31.2017  | The HEALTH Act
An Act Furthering Health Empowerment and Affordability by Leveraging Transformative Health Care (the HEALTH Act)
10.30.2017  | The-Multi-Billion-Costs-of-Excessive-Regulation
While debate in Massachusetts and in Washington focus on healthcare costs and healthcare access, a more general question merits attention: In the incessant effort to regulate all aspects of the healthcare community, is the state creating a regulatory
10.16.2017  | A Focus on Employer Insurance Reporting and MassHealth Funding
A deficiency budget that the Massachusetts House passed this week to close the books on FY17 included a provision requiring every employer in Massachusetts with six or more workers to out an employer medical assistance contribution (EMAC) compliance
09.25.2017  | Addressing the Opioid Issue from All Angles
Governor Baker announced on Wednesday that he intends to file a new bill to address the opioid epidemic. The details of the bill have not been revealed yet, but the State House News Service quoted the governor as saying it would deal with “prevention
09.19.2017  | SB195 Clarify and Enhance Privacy Protections for Electronic Health Records
MHA appreciates this opportunity to offer comments in opposition to SB195, "An Act to Clarify and Enhance Privacy Protections for Electronic Health Records (EHRs)."

Resources

Click on the links below for easy access to important information related to state healthcare issues and advocacy.
Visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts websites below to find information on legislative hearings and other meetings of interest to the healthcare community.
To guide your navigation of the legislative process and assist your advocacy efforts, please visit the following state websites:
MHA has also developed the following documents for your information and benefit:
  • Directory of Government Officials
  • 2016-2017/2017-2018 State Legislative Package 
Click on the links below for easy access to information on important federal healthcare matters and MHA’s advocacy, outreach and other work on these issues.

Both of these include links to members list, committees, and legislation and records.