Boston Session Scheduled – PCA Overtime Restrictions

MassHealth plans to restrict use of overtime by PCAs starting September 1. At the request of advocates, a new public listening session on the changes has been scheduled by MassHealth for:

            Monday, June 27 from 11 am – 1 pm,  21st floor, One Ashburton Place, Boston.

 We are concerned the new rules could diminish the pool of PCAs and result in less services, even if there technically are no cuts to service for consumers and an exception policy is planned.  Please let us know if:

·        You use one PCA for more than 40 hours a week and would be negatively impacted by the proposed changes.

·         You use a PCA (or PCAs) who work over 40 hours a week who would be negatively impacted by restricted hours and might cause you to lose PCA coverage.

We are compiling stories to share with MassHealth– so please send yours to us at bhenning@bostoncil.org. You can also share your story at the June 27 session or send formal comments on the proposed regulations to the Assistant Secretary for MassHealth, EOHHS, One Ashburton Place, Room 1109, Boston, Massachusetts 02108, or e-mail them to masshealthpublicnotice@state.ma.us.  E-mailed comments should contain the sender’s name, mailing address, and organization or affiliation, if any. Comments will be accepted by MassHealth through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 8, 2016.

The hearing set earlier on the MassHealth PCA OT proposal is still slated for Friday, June 24 10:00 a.m. in Worcester at                                                           **note location change**
Blais Pavilion in the Aaron Lazare Research Building
UMass Medical School – University Campus
55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester