Health Announce: June 9, 2025

Topics for this week's Health Announce:

1. One Care Implementation Council Town Hall tomorrow June 10
2. Change of Date- Health Care Working Group, Tuesday June 24
3. Public Hearing on new PCA Services regulations, Friday June 27
4. Justice in Aging Webinar: Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Older Adults in 2025 and Beyond, Wednesday June 25
5. Reconciliation bill updates- keep making calls!

1. One Care Implementation Council Town Hall, tomorrow June 10

The One Care Implementation Council is holding its annual virtual town hall meeting tomorrow, June 10, from 10am-12pm. This meeting is an opportunity for all to share their experiences, ask questions, and hear from other One Care members. Click here to register
 

2. Change of Date- Health Care Working Group, Tuesday June 24

Because our regularly scheduled Health Care Working Group conflicts with the MCLE Legal Services Conference this month, we are rescheduling our meeting for Tuesday, June 24, 3-4:30pm. You should receive an updated calendar invitation soon. If you have any topics you’d like to discuss at the next meeting, please let Kate (ksymmonds@mlri.org) or Jeni (jkaplan@mlri.org) know.

3. Public Hearing on new PCA regulations, Friday June 27

MassHealth is holding a public hearing on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 12:00 pm, to take comments on the new proposed regulations for Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Services. The hearing will be conducted remotely; people can join online at the EHS Public Hearings Meeting Room or by Zoom (meeting ID 935 397 8200 and passcode 800606). Some of the substantive changes to the new proposed PCA regulation include:

• 422.417(B) Notice of Denial or Modification and Right of Appeal – The proposed regulation adds language making it clear that a member has a right to appeal when a new prior authorization approves fewer hours than were approved in the previous year’s prior authorization.
• 422.418(C) PCA Program: Special Payments: Complex Care Differential Payment – In 2023, the PCA Union negotiated a 3-year contract with the state that included provisions for a new wage rate for PCAs engaged in complex care. Those PCAs working with member-consumers who meet MassHealth established clinical criteria for having complex care needs will have an increase of $3.25 per hour in the applicable wage rate.
• 422.422(C) PCA Program: Personal Care Management Agency Operating Procedures: Evaluation to Initiate PCA Services – The regulations add language that, in assessing the need for PCA services for a child under the age of 18, the evaluation team must consider parental responsibilities as indicated by the child’s developmental milestones. (The new standard is also incorporated into the regulations at 422.410(D) ADLs and IADLs: Determining the Number of Hours of Physical Assistance for Minor Members.)

4. Justice in Aging Webinar: Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Older Adults in 2025 and Beyond, Wednesday June 25

On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 3pm – 4 pm, Justice in Aging hosts a webinar for advocates for LGBTQ+ older adults and other aging and disability stakeholders to learn about what issues are facing this vulnerable population during this challenging time. Topics include updates about the programs and services LGBTQ+ older adults rely on and an overview of key cases impacting their rights. While this webinar runs at the same time that the MCLE Legal Services Conference is scheduled, register here to get access to the recording and training materials. Happy Pride Month!

5. Reconciliation Bill Update

Lots of attention has been given to the provisions in the House’s Reconciliation Bill attacking access to and eligibility for Medicaid, but there are also very damaging provisions aimed at undermining people’s access to Marketplace coverage. The State Marketplace Network has published two reports on how the provisions of Reconciliation Bill will impact (1) the 24 million Americans already enrolled in Health Insurance Marketplaces and (2) people seeking to enroll in Marketplace coverage.

Meanwhile, as the Senate considers the House’s Reconciliation Bill, many Republicans – both in the House and the Senate – have expressed serious reservations about the bill (and for House members, regret about voting for it). The Congressional Budget Office released a new analysis on the estimated budgetary effects of the Reconciliation Bill, which predicted even greater harm than previous analyses. The new CBO report projects that 16 million people would lose their health coverage by 2034.

As cracks begin to grow in Republican support for the bill, it’s important to keep up the pressure! Health Care For All and SEIU are still holding phone banks every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 5pm. Participants are calling constituents in key states and asking them to tell their Senators to oppose any cuts to Medicaid. We have just over three weeks – until July 4th – to keep the pressure on moderate Republicans to protect healthcare coverage and access to food assistance for millions of people across the
country. Register to call.