Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Office of Medicaid
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111
www.mass.gov/masshealth

	MassHealth
	Long Term Care Facility Bulletin 92
	May 2006



	TO:	Nursing Facilities and Chronic Disease and Rehabilitation Inpatient Hospitals Participating in MassHealth

	FROM:	Beth Waldman, Medicaid Director

	RE:	2006 Social Security Benefit Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Residents of Long-Term-Care Facilities


Background	
Effective January 1, 2006, a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increased monthly benefits for most recipients of Retirement/Survivors/Disability Insurance (RSDI) by 4.1%.
	

Patient-Paid Amount Increase for Residents of Long-Term-Care Facilities	
An increase in monthly income will usually result in an increase to the monthly patient-paid amount (PPA) for residents of long-term-care facilities.  PPA increases must be applied toward claims submitted to MassHealth for January 2006, and for each month thereafter.

Recently, system-generated notices about the new PPAs were mailed to members, spouses, and responsible parties.  Letter-format notices indicating old and new PPAs for each member were mailed to affected providers.  A notice is not generated if there is no change in the PPA.
	

Personal Needs Allowances
The personal needs allowance (PNA) for MassHealth members in nursing facilities and chronic disease hospitals remains $60 per month.

The PNA for SSI recipients in nursing facilities and chronic disease hospitals remains $65 per month.
	

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.