Be there for the Mass Health Listening Sessions on Long Term Services and Supports


 MassHealth Listening Session on Behavioral Health and Long-Term Services and Supports

    

Friday, June 12, 2015 

2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

One Ashburton Place, 21st Floor 

Boston, MA

 

 

 MassHealth is hosting a listening session so that members of the public can give input on :

  • "efforts to enhance the health care experience for MassHealth members,
     
  • improve health outcomes and discuss reforms to make the MassHealth program more sustainable."

 

The June 12th session will focus on Behavioral Health, and Long Term Services and Supports.    

 

 

 

More details, and information about other sessions in Lawrence, New Bedford, Springfield, and Worcester, are here. 

 

 

 

 

 
Direction of Mass Health and Long Term Services Under Discussion
 
While most advocate's eyes are focusing on House/Senate FY  16 Budget Conference Committee discussions; significant discussions are underway within Mass Health (Massachusetts Medicaid) that may lead to significant systemic changes and service delivery modifications that could  have dramatic impact upon people with disabilities.

Early in the Baker Administration, leading players including the Governor and Secretaries of Health and Human Services and the the Executive Office of Administration and Finance expressed concern that "Mass Health is currently unsustainable." (EOHHS presentation, 4/6/15)

In fact, EOHHS projects that total Mass Health spending for FY 16 will be at $15.3 billion, inclusive of $6.7 billion in state funds and $8.7 in matched Federal dollars plus provider assessments.

With the Administration viewing these numbers as alarming, the Administration is embarking on a series of "Mass Health Listening Sessions" offering stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the question of Mass Health sustainability, consumer needs and potential reforms.

Mass Health has stated in addition to fiscal sustainability, its other goals include improving customer and member experience, improving health care coordination, and innovative approaches for populations receiving long term services and supports.

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, these desired outcomes may signal program changes or further involvement of managed care organizations (or ACOs) which may be cause for insuring that the unique needs of our population is understood and respected without sacrificing hard fought for reforms including community integration, payment reform, such as Chapter 257 and individual empowerment through self directed services and employment reform.

ADDP urges all  disability stakeholders to make time to attend Mass Health Listening Sessions