Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services Office of Medicaid www.mass.gov/masshealth MassHealth All Provider Bulletin 206 November 2010 TO: All Providers Participating in MassHealth FROM: Terence G. Dougherty, Medicaid Director RE: Medicaid Hospice Benefit for Children and Concurrent Curative Treatment Background This bulletin notifies MassHealth providers of a change in the Medicaid hospice benefit for children as a result of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) enacted in March of 2010. PPACA requires state Medicaid programs to make hospice services available to children under the age of 21 without forgoing curative treatment or any other medically necessary services for which the child is eligible. PPACA does not change any other criteria for electing hospice services. Therefore, effective immediately, MassHealth members under the age of 21 who elect hospice services have coverage for curative treatment and all medically necessary services for which they are eligible. Hospice Providers PPACA does not change the contractual obligation of MassHealth-participating hospice providers to provide services under the hospice benefit as it relates to the member’s terminal illness, as described in 130 CMR 437.401 et.seq. The hospice plan of care must include all services necessary for the palliation and management of the terminal illness and related conditions, and must identify any curative treatment that the member receives. The MassHealth Hospice Election form has been revised to reflect the changes in the PPACA. Providers can find the new MassHealth Hospice Election form on the MassHealth Web site, at www.mass.gov/masshealth. MassHealth is in the process of revising its hospice regulations to reflect these changes. Questions If you have any questions about the information in this bulletin, please contact MassHealth Customer Service at 1-800-841-2900, e-mail your inquiry to providersupport@mahealth.net, or fax your inquiry to 617-988-8974.