Important Message about Your MassHealth Benefits

This letter contains news about coverage for more services for eligible adults and for tobacco cessation services for eligible members of any age who smoke or use other tobacco products like chewing tobacco.

New Services for Adults

Due to a new state law, starting July 1, 2006, MassHealth will cover more services for members aged 21 years or older (adults).  (MassHealth already covers these services for members under the age of 21.)  

Adults who are enrolled in MassHealth Standard, Prenatal, CommonHealth, Basic, and Family Assistance for persons with HIV can get all of the additional services listed below.

Adults who are enrolled in MassHealth Essential can get all of the additional services listed below, except for vision, chiropractor, and orthotic services.  MassHealth Essential does not cover those services.

MassHealth will cover the following services for eligible adults, starting July 1, 2006.  Certain conditions and limitations may apply (for example, some services need prior approval).  

* Dental Services.  MassHealth will cover medically necessary dental services including checkups, cleanings, fillings, certain endodontics (like root canals), and dentures.  Some of these services need prior approval.  Adults will no longer have to qualify for special circumstances to get these services.  There will be no interruption in the services you are currently receiving.  For a list of dentists who accept MassHealth, go to www.mass.gov/masshealth/dentists.   
* Vision Services.  MassHealth will cover medically necessary eyeglasses, eyeglass parts, eyeglass dispensing, certain contact lenses, and other visual aids, including magnifying aids.  (These vision services are not covered for members enrolled in MassHealth Essential.)  Vision exams continue to be covered by MassHealth.  
* Chiropractor Services.  MassHealth will cover medically necessary services you receive from a chiropractor.  (Chiropractor services are not covered for members enrolled in MassHealth Essential.) 
* Orthotics.  MassHealth will cover medically necessary orthotic services.  In addition to other changes, coverage for orthotic shoes will no longer be restricted to members with severe diabetic foot disease.  (Orthotic services are not covered for members enrolled in MassHealth Essential.)
* Prosthetics.  MassHealth will cover medically necessary prosthetic services.  
* 
Certain 24-hour substance abuse treatment services.  MassHealth will cover 24-hour post-medical detoxification substance abuse treatment services, defined as Level IIIB and Level IIIC by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Abuse Services.
* Acute hospital inpatient administratively necessary days.  MassHealth will cover all administratively necessary inpatient stays.

Tobacco Cessation Services for Members of Any Age

In addition to the services listed above, as of July 1, 2006, MassHealth will cover tobacco cessation services for eligible MassHealth members of any age who smoke or use tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco.  MassHealth will cover tobacco cessation services for members enrolled in MassHealth Standard, Prenatal, CommonHealth, Family Assistance for persons with HIV, and for members who get direct coverage (not premium assistance) for MassHealth Basic, Essential, and Family Assistance for children.  

MassHealth members may receive group or individual counseling by requesting tobacco cessation counseling services from their doctor.  These services are available through MassHealth physicians, community health centers, and hospital outpatient departments (other than the emergency department).  Also, members may request a prescription from their doctor for nicotine replacement medicine, including nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges, and certain other medicines to help members in the process of quitting tobacco.

Questions	

This notice contains a summary of the new benefits.  MassHealth regulations can be found on the MassHealth Web site at www.mass.gov/masshealth.  If you have questions about these changes, call the MassHealth Customer Service Center at 1-800-841-2900 (TTY:  1-800-497-4648 for people with partial or total hearing loss).  The Customer Service Center hours are between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday.  

If you are a consumer of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, and you have questions about these changes, you may also call 1-800-392-6450 (TTY:  1-800-392-6556 for people with partial or total hearing loss).





	Commonwealth of Massachusetts
	Executive Office of Health and Human Services
	Office of Medicaid
	www.mass.gov/masshealth
			June 2006 


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