MassHealth/ Medicaid

In Massachusetts, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined into one program called MassHealth. Medicaid is a shared state and federal program to provide health insurance for poor and disabled residents. CHIP is medical coverage source for individuals under age 19 whose parents earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to pay for private coverage. MHA monitors prospective and recently implemented changes to MassHealth, provides information about how specific aspects of the plan affect care providers, and advocates for fair and equitable implementation of the program. 
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.
08.06.2018  | State Report Shows Hospitals are Skating on Thin Ice
The state has released Massachusetts hospital financial performance data for all of 2017 and the picture is not at all rosy.
07.23.2018  | Senate Passes Bill to Expand Tools for Addiction Treatment
In a 37-0 vote last Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate passed “An Act for Prevention and Access to Appropriate Care and Treatment of Addiction.”
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.
04.23.2018  | Immigration Toolkit Complements MHA Efforts
With increased federal activity relating to immigration, healthcare facilities have been grappling with questions related to patients and staff whose legal status in the U.S. may be in jeopardy.
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.
04.16.2018  | House Budget Provides Support for DSH and Safety Net
The Massachusetts House Ways & Means Committee released its proposed FY19 state budget last Wednesday, and a preliminary review of it shows that the budget writers were responsive to some key hospital priorities.
04.02.2018  | Hospitals Eligible for $10.4 million in CHRTF Funding
EOHHS announced last week that 52 acute care hospitals are eligible for $10.385 million through the Community Hospital Reinvestment Trust Fund.
03.05.2018  | FY19 Budget Priorities for House Ways & Means Committee
MHA weighed in with the House Ways & Means Committee as it prepares to take the next step in the state’s budget process.
02.28.2018  | Statement from MHA President & CEO Steve Walsh regarding MassHealth ACOs
Statement from Steve Walsh, President & CEO, Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA), regarding MassHealth ACOs.
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.
01.08.2018  | New $750K Grants Available Through HPC
The Health Policy Commission (HPC) last Wednesday announced a new grant program for eligible providers to help them reduce avoidable acute care use.
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
11.28.2017  | HB488 / SB547, HB527 / SB524, SB543 Health Insurance Mandates / Life Insurance
HB488 / SB547, HB527 / SB524, SB543 Health Insurance Mandates / Life Insurance
10.31.2017  | The HEALTH Act
An Act Furthering Health Empowerment and Affordability by Leveraging Transformative Health Care (the HEALTH Act)

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