Health-Law-Announcements's Blog

1. Substance use disorder services 

Last year a state law improving substance use disorder services was enacted (c. 258 St. 2014). A provision requiring MassHealth & MassHealth managed care plans to cover detox and up to 14 day crisis stabilization services without prior authorization took effect on Oct 1, 2015.

On August 1, 2015, the Office of Medicaid notified over 30,000 households containing at least one member with a disability that they had to submit a reapplication by Sept 15, 2015 in order to remain eligible for MassHealth.

This reapplication deadline applies to over 60,000 individuals.

We learned today that the number of reapplications filed to date is on the low side. Termination notices will not go out on 9-15; there will be at least a short grace period. But terminations will happen. Over 200,000 people were terminated in July.

MassHealth just released preliminary results on the first 500,000 MassHealth beneficiaries to have their eligibility renewed in the new computer eligibility system. It's attached.

The positive spin is that 80% of people who were required to reapply, responded in some way, and that of those who completed an application 83% were still eligible for MassHealth.