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AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

MASSACHUSETTS IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE

June 16, 2014

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These Updates, published by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) in consultation with the other state agencies involved in ACA implementation, will bring you news related to the implementation of provisions of the ACA here in Massachusetts.

Grants and Demonstrations

The ACA provides funding opportunities to transform how health care is delivered, expand access to care and support healthcare workforce training.

Grant Announcements

2014 Cooperative Agreements to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, §4002. Announced June 6, 2014. Funding is available to support states in implementing the 2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (NSSP). The goals of the NSSP are focused on preventing suicide and suicide attempts among working-age adults 25-64 years old in order to reduce the overall suicide rate and number of suicides in the U.S. nationally. Eligibility is limited to the Mental Health Authority in the 50 states and territories. $1,880,000 in total is available for four awards.

Applications are due July 16, 2014.

The 2012 NSSP is the result of a joint effort by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. The NSSP is a call to action that is intended to guide suicide prevention actions in the United States over the next decade. It outlines four strategic directions with 13 goals and 60 objectives that are meant to work together in a synergistic way to prevent suicide in the nation.

To learn more about this strategy please visit: SURGEONGENERAL.GOV

This opportunity may be viewed at: SAMHSA.GOV

Grant Activity

For information about ACA grants awarded to and grant proposals submitted by the Commonwealth, visit the Grants page of the Massachusetts National Health Care Reform website at: Mass.Gov

Guidance

6/6/14 HHS/CMS issued a notice under the Privacy Act of 1974 that announces the modification of an existing Computer Matching Program Agreement (CMP) that CMS has with the Social Security Administration (SSA) for purposes of determining enrollment or eligibility for insurance affordability programs under the ACA.

ACA §1411 and §1413 require the Secretary of HHS to establish a program for determining eligibility for certain Insurance Affordability Programs, providing certifications of exemption, and authorizing the use of secure, electronic interfaces and an on-line system for the verification of eligibility.

Eligibility determinations include initial determinations made upon application, renewals, annual or periodic redeterminations, and appeals. Data is matched by CMS for the purpose of eligibility determinations and enrollment in Insurance Affordability Programs (such as advance payments of the premium tax credit (§1401, §1411 and §1412); cost sharing reductions (§1402); Medicaid and the CHIP (pursuant to §1413); or a State's Basic Health Program (BHP), if applicable, (under §1331) and eligibility determinations for exemptions.

The original purpose of the CMP was to establish the terms, conditions, safeguards, and procedures under which SSA will disclose information to CMS in connection with the administration of ACA Insurance Affordability Programs and its implementing regulations. Under the CMP, SSA provides data to CMS and CMS will use SSA data needed to make initial eligibility determinations, eligibility redeterminations and renewal decisions, including appeal determinations, for Insurance Affordability Programs under the ACA. The technical modifications to the agreement include the addition of certain data elements that SSA will provide to CMS.

Comments are due 30 days after publication of the notice in the Federal Register.

Read the notice at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-06-06/pdf/2014-13249.pdf

Prior guidance can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/index.html

Upcoming Events

Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration Information Meeting

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

2:00 PM- 3:30 PM

State Transportation Building, 2nd floor Conference Rooms

10 Park Plaza

Boston, MA 02116

Please contact MFP@state.ma.us to RSVP and to request reasonable accommodations. Although RSVPs are greatly appreciated, they are not required.

Integrating Medicare and Medicaid for Dual Eligible Individuals (also known as One Care) Implementation Council Meetings

Friday, June 27, 2014

1:00 PM -3:00 PM

1 Ashburton Place, 21st Floor

Boston, MA

Friday, July 25, 2014

1:00 PM -3:00 PM

1 Ashburton Place, 21st Floor

Boston, MA

A meeting agenda and any meeting material will be distributed prior to the meetings.

Meetings of the Implementation Council are open to stakeholders and members of the public with an interest in One Care. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Please contact Donna Kymalainen at Donna.Kymalainen@umassmed.edu to request accommodations

Bookmark the Massachusetts National Health Care Reform website at:

National Health Care Reform to read updates on ACA implementation in Massachusetts.

Remember to check the Mass.Gov website at: Dual Eligibles for information on the "Integrating Medicare and Medicaid for Dual Eligible Individuals" initiative.