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 94
	April 2007


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

	FROM:	Tom Dehner, Acting Medicaid Director

	RE:	2007 Social Security Benefit Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 
Residents of Long-Term-Care Facilities


Background
Effective January 1, 2007, a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) 
increased monthly benefits for most recipients of 
Retirement/Survivors/Disability Insurance (RSDI) by 3.3%.

Patient-Paid Amount Increase for Residents 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 of facilities. PPA 
increases must be applied toward claims submitted to MassHealth for January 
2007, and for each month thereafter.

Recently, system-generated notices about the new PPAs were mailed to 
members, spouses, and responsible parties. 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.