Listening Sessions for State’s Plan for ACOs

The state submitted its proposal to establish Accountable Care Organizations for those on MassHealth, doing this through a request to amend its 1115 waiver. Below is the official notice from the state with links to the proposal.

DAAHR will be developing comments on the state’s submission. We welcome your comments, and also encourage you to attend the two public listening sessions:

Listening session #1, in conjunction with a meeting of the MassHealth Medical Care Advisory Committee and the MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory Board: 
Date:  Friday, June 24, 2016
Time:  2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location:  1 Ashburton Place, 21^st Floor, Boston MA
Conference Line: 1-866-565-6580, Passcode: 9593452
 
Listening session #2:
Date:  Monday, June 27, 2016
Time:  2:00 – 3:30 pm
Location:  Auditorium, Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA

Thanks for your advocacy!

Bill Henning, Boston Center for Independent Living, DAAHR co-chair
Dennis Heaphy, Disability Policy Consortium, DAAHR co-chair
______________________________________________________________________

Notice of Agency Action

Subject:  MassHealth:  Notice of Submission of a Request to extend the MassHealth Section 1115 Demonstration

Agency:  Executive Office of Health and Human Services

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) announces its intent to submit a request to amend and extend the MassHealth Section 1115 Demonstration (“Request”) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The MassHealth 1115 Demonstration provides federal authority for Massachusetts to expand eligibility to individuals who are not otherwise Medicaid or CHIP eligible, offer services that are not typically covered by Medicaid, and use innovative service delivery systems that improve care, increase efficiency, and reduce costs as a part of MassHealth restructuring.  Financing for the current 1115 Demonstration is only authorized through June 30, 2017.

MassHealth plans to advance alternative payment methodologies and delivery system reform through accountable care organizations and community partners for behavioral health and long term services and supports. A significant focus will be placed on improving integration and delivery of care for members with behavioral health needs and those with dual diagnoses of substance abuse disorder; as well as integration of long term services and supports and health-related social services. In addition, MassHealth plans to expand treatment for individuals affected by opioid addiction.

The Request does not affect eligibility for MassHealth.  A more detailed public notice can be found at MassHealth’s home page:  http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/masshealth/, and the Request documents can be found at the MassHealth 1115 demonstration web site: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/masshealth/masshealth-and-health-care-reform.html.

Public Comment Period: 
EOHHS program staff will host two public listening sessions in order to hear public comments on the Request. Stakeholders are invited to review the Request in advance and share with program staff at the listening sessions any input and feedback, or questions for future clarification. The listening sessions are scheduled as follows:

Listening session #1, in conjunction with a meeting of the MassHealth Medical Care Advisory Committee and the MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory Board: 
Date:  Friday, June 24, 2016
Time:  2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Location:  1 Ashburton Place, 21^st Floor, Boston MA
Conference Line: 1-866-565-6580, Passcode: 9593452

Listening session #2:
Date:  Monday, June 27, 2016
Time:  2:00 – 3:30 pm
Location:  Auditorium, Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main Street, Fitchburg, MA

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available at both meetings.  Please contact Donna Kymalainen at Donna.Kymalainen@state.ma.us or 617-886-8247 to request additional accommodations.

EOHHS will accept comments on the proposed Request through July 15, 2016.  Written comments may be delivered by email or mail.  By email, please send comments to   MassHealth.Innovations@state.ma.us and include “Comments on Demonstration Extension Request” in the subject line.  By mail, please send comments to: EOHHS Office of Medicaid, Attn: 1115 Demonstration Comments, One Ashburton Place, 11^th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.  Comments must be received by 5 pm on July 15, 2016 in order to be considered.  Paper copies of submitted comments may be obtained in person by request from 9 am-5 pm at EOHHS, One Ashburton Place, 11^th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.  Comments will be posted on the MassHealth 1115 Demonstration website:  http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/masshealth/masshealth-and-health-care-reform.html.