Update and ACTION ITEMS on CommCare eligibility for Aliens with Special Status (AWSS)

The Legislature is likely to take up vetoes and amendments in fiscal year 10 budget starting on Wednesday, i.e. tomorrow. We don't have any confirmation of when or if the Legislature will take up the issue of immigrant eligibility in the CommCare program, (theoretically, they have until the end of the session to act on this budget item)  But this is a high priority issue for all parties and therefore it is likely to come up sooner rather than later. As it stands now, CommCare eligibility will continue through the month of July for the 30,000 legal immigrants with AWSS status. Then under the Gov.'s proposal, and if it is accepted by the Legislature, eligibility would end on July 31, reducing coverage for this population to either the health safety net or a combination of the health safety net and MassHealth Limited for the month of August. Then, beginning in September, a new program of eligibility would start providing some unspecified degree of coverage for AWSS under a state-funded program. It is not clear whether this new program would be administered as part of the CommCare program under the Connector's jurisdiction or whether it would be a  MassHealth product administered by the office of Medicaid. The new program would be funded $70 million, or roughly half of the cost of providing full CommCare benefits to the AWSS population. We've attached the notice going out to the immigrant population from CommCare explaining their status in these confused times. The Legislature is under great pressure to act on the Gov.'s proposal, or the status quo, i.e. full Commonwealth care eligibility would continue to the AWSS population. Given the strong position the legislature has articulated in the budget this outcome is extremely unlikely. More likely is the Legislature will act by either approving the Gov.'s amendment, amending the amendment and sending it back to the Gov. for his approval, or disapproving the amendment. If the legislature disapproves the amendment, the governor would be left with the choice of either vetoing the original restriction on CommCare eligibility for these immigrants and leaving the program severely underfunded for the fiscal year, or letting stand the legislative decision to cut the 30,000 immigrants from CommCare eligibility. Action-items. Under these unfortunate circumstances, the best of the probable outcomes would be for the Legislature to accept the Gov.'s proposed amendment creating a state-funded program for these 30,000 legal immigrants. Please contact your representative and urge them to affirmatively take up the Gov.'s amendment providing coverage for the AWSS population. If you're in Boston tomorrow, there will be a rally at the state house in room 222 from 11 to 12 urging favorable action to protect these 30,000 immigrants. A large show of support is needed to get the Legislature on board with the governor's plan. We will continue to update you on developments regarding the 30,000 legal immigrants facing CommCare termination. We urge you to help us fill our story bank with compelling cases of legal immigrants who need  quality health care, by using the attached  story form document. Neil Cronin, Policy Analyst/Advocate Massachusetts Law Reform Institute 99 Chauncy Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02111 617-357-0700 ext.309 ncronin@mlri.org