Call to Action! Testify July 20 to Support Health Coverage for Immigrant Children; MassHealth 1115 Waiver Renewal Listening Sessions

Hello all, a couple announcements. First, a request for testimony to support legislation expanding access to MassHealth coverage for immigrant children and young adults (Cover All Kids bills). Second, information about MassHealth's public listening sessions about its 1115 waiver renewal proposal.

 

Legislative Hearing on Access to Coverage for Immigrant Children- Call to Action!

 

WHAT: An Act to ensure equitable health coverage for children (H.1309/ S.762) and An Act to ensure equitable access to health coverage for children with disabilities (H.1310/ S.763). These bills are a part of the Children’s Health Access Coalition’s campaign to improve access to care for certain immigrant children and young adults. Specifically, the bills would expand comprehensive MassHealth coverage to include children and young adults whose only barrier to eligibility is their immigration status.

 

WHEN: Tuesday, July 20th at 11:00 AM

 

LIVESTREAM: Hearings & Events (malegislature.gov)

 

CALL TO ACTION: Please submit written testimony: we need the legislature to hear how important this issue is to you and your organization! If you would like to submit written testimony, you can use the attached template testimony as your draft. Please submit your written testimony to Suzanne Curry, Behavioral Health Policy Director at HCFA, at scurry@hcfama.org by Monday, July 19^th at 12pm. 

 

If you or somebody you know might be interested in delivering oral testimony at the hearing, please contact me at ksymmonds@mlri.org and scurry@hcfama.org as soon as possible. We encourage testimony from those with stories about immigrant children having trouble accessing health care because they are only eligible for the Children’s Medical Security Plan, MassHealth Limited, or the Health Safety Net. 

 

ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP:

·         Contact your State Legislators: It’s not too late to ask your State Senator and Representative to co-sponsor these bills! Click here to quickly send an email (or call) your State Senator and Representative to ask for their support. 

·         Endorse this legislation (individually, or on behalf of your organization) by completing this form.

·         Story collecting: Please distribute this flyer to your networks, clients, and/or members, so that they can reach out to us to tell their stories. 

 

 

1115 Waiver Renewal Listening Sessions

 

As many of you know, MassHealth is preparing its 1115 Demonstration Waiver renewal, which it will submit to CMS for approval later this summer, and will take effect on July 1, 2022. MassHealth will publish a summary of its renewal proposal on Thursday, July 15^th, and will hold two public listening sessions on the following dates:

 

Session 1 - Summary of MassHealth's 1115 Proposal

July 15, 2021 from 2 - 3:30pm 

This session will be in webinar format, and will include some time for questions. Click here for more information, including how to join.

 

Session 2 - Listening Session on MassHealth's 1115 Proposal

July 20, 2021 from 10:30am - 12pm

This session will include a brief recap of the summary proposal and will provide stakeholders the opportunity to offer comments and ask questions. MassHealth members are encouraged in particular to join during this time. Click here for more information, including how to join.