Health Care Advocacy Alerts
This page describes issues of high importance to low income, disabled, and elderly persons who rely on various public health benefits programs for their needed medical services. The issues are listed in chronological order, with the most recent alerts on the top and older alerts listed further down the page.
These alerts are intended for health advocates and allied community groups who wish to keep informed and involved in the public debate on the appropriate role of government in guaranteeing access to needed health care services. Please be sure to check back frequently as the issues involving health care access are changing rapidly.
We will maintain an archive of older Advocacy alerts as a sub-folder of this file. http://www.masslegalservices.org/cat/1884
Please be sure to check out Health Care For All's website at www.hcfama.org for further information on what you can do to strengthen and preserve our social safety net for health care programs serving the poor and uninsured.
Please forward any comments on the contents of these pages to ncronin@mlri.org
Sub-Categories
Resources in this Category
ALL Agency Rules & Procedures Policy Advocacy Practice Materials Other
| Title | Date  | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Health Safety Net Copays -May 2008 update In May 2008, the Division of Health Care Finance & Policy has temporarily suspended all copayments for medical services except for pharmacy copayments until further notice. | 5/20/2008 | |
| | Proposed Durable Medical Equipment Rules MassHealth has proposed many changes to DME rules. Comments due May 23, but Office of Medicaid plans to issue new notice May 30 with public hearing later in June. | 5/19/2008 | |
 | Commonwealth Care Update Spring 2008 Short summary of changes in Commonwealth Care for July 2008 and other developments | 5/13/2008 | |
 | June 13 comment deadline on proposed HSN rules Link to DHCFP website with proposed rules at 13.00 and 14.00 on Health Safety Net (FREE CARE) eligibility and payment | 5/13/2008 | |
| | July 2008 Changes in Commonwealth Care July 2008 Changes in Commonwealth Care Premium and copayment increases --analysis and advocacy tips | 4/25/2008 | |
| | Flyer on Changes in MassHealth Dental Program | 4/18/2008 | |
| | Tax Rebate Info for SSDI and VA pension beneficiaries IRS flyer with info on tax rebates. Nontaxable SSDI & VA pension benefits count as "qualifying income" entitling benefiaries to rebate IF they file tax return. | 3/12/2008 | |
| | MassHealth Premium Hardship Waiver Hardship Waiver for MassHealth Premiums | 3/4/2008 | |
| | MLRI analysis of Governor's Budget for 2009 | 2/11/2008 | |
| Thousands of MassHealth Households Subject to Termination for Non-Payment of Premiums | 2/9/2008 | ||
| | Povery Level Guidelines For MassHealth etc. (Effective March 1, 2008) Attached is an income chart for 2008-2009 for the various MassHealth and related health programs. Note that this year the effective date for the poverty level changes in MassHealth has moved up from its usual April 1st start date to March 1st. These figures not only determine eligibility but also premium amounts due under MassHealth and Commonwealth Care. | 2/6/2008 | |
| | Connector affordability & eligibility regulations-Feb. 4, 2008 public hearing Notice from the Connector of a public hearing on Feb 4, 2008 on proposed changes to the 6.00 affordability regulations and the 3.00 eligibility & hearing regulations. | 1/16/2008 | |
| | What's happening to Free Care? Summary of major changes to free care taking effect after October 1, 2007 & advocacy tips for clients receiving Free Care termination notices. | 10/19/2007 | |
| | Health Safety Termination Notice to Unenrolled Commonwealth Eligible Individuals Approximately 45,000 Health Safety Net enrollees who have been determined eligible for the Commonwealth Care Program will receive this notice, terminating their HSN coverage sometime in December 2007. | 10/11/2007 | |
| | Health Policies Affecting Victims of Domestic Violence and Separated Low Income Spouses and Parents | 10/9/2007 | |
| Health Safety Net Care Pool to Replace Free Care Pool-Public Hearing Aug. 22, 2007 The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy has issued draft regulations governing the Health Safety Net affecting both eligibility and services replacing the Uncompensated Care Pool, also known as the Free Care Pool. A Public hearing is scheduled for August 22, 2007 | 7/18/2007 | ||
| Important July 1st 2007 Health Changes | 6/28/2007 | ||
| Good news on access to the Free Care/Uncompensated Care Pool for US citizens (Updated) | 6/7/2007 | ||
| | Updated Immigrant Health Access Summary Including Commonwealth Care | 6/4/2007 | |
