Press Release  2026 Medicaid Summit Held at Massachusetts State House

BOSTON — On Tuesday, June 9, The Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC), in partnership with The Council of State Governments (CSG) and CSG East, hosted The 2026 Medicaid Summit at the Massachusetts State House.

The summit focused on the passage of H.R.1, known as “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act” or “The Working Families Tax Cut Act” in July 2025, and its implications for Medicaid-funded services, state budgets, workforce development, and rural healthcare systems. Attendees participated in presentations and panel discussions led by nationally recognized experts in healthcare policy, disability services, and state government.

Organizers emphasized the importance of collaboration and informed policy discussions as states prepare for significant changes to the Medicaid program over the coming years.

“Changes to Medicaid imposed under H.R.1 constitute the largest overhaul in the history of the program. Our aim with this summit was to ensure policymakers and their staff had the information necessary to ensure responsible implementation of changes with the understanding of the concerns of their constituents with disabilities,” said Craig Hall, MDDC Executive Director.

The summit was co-sponsored by members of the Massachusetts Legislature including Rep. Jay Livingstone and Sen. Robyn Kennedy, Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities, and Rep. John Lawn and Sen. Cindy Friedman, Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Sen. Paul Mark served as an event sponsor and organizer.

“It’s important as we think about the changes that are happening at the federal government about how Massachusetts is going to continue to try to do it its way, try to make sure everyone who is eligible for a program gets the benefit of that program and that it is done with as easy access as possible,” said Livingstone in his welcome address to attendees.

The panel presentations focused on topics including Medicaid-funded Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), the direct care workforce, implementation of new federal work requirements, employment supports for people with disabilities, state budget decision-making, and rural health transformation efforts.

Featured speakers and panelists represented organizations including The Council of State Governments, MassHealth, Human Services Research Institute, Justice in Aging, Brandeis University, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Purdue University, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and Milliman.

“This Summit is important because Medicaid is a lifeline. I would not be able to live my life without Medicaid. It provides me with health insurance, but I still fall through the cracks for HCBS supports. We need more access to Medicaid HCBS, not less. In an ideal world HCBS should be an entitlement not based on needing 24/7 supervision, or being at ICF Level of Care,” said Nicole LeBlanc, a consultant and Policy Assistant with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) who served as a facilitator  for two of the four panels.

Betsy Johnson, a parent advocate and consultant who works with The Arc of Massachusetts’ Operation House Call opened the first panel with a reading of her poem “The Mathematics of Mercy,” which recently drew attention after Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) read it on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. “I think that there’s a real power in having a way of sharing lived experience or in any of the art forms as a way of just opening up people's ideas and not forming a rebuttal, necessarily, in their minds,” said Johnson when asked about why she chose poetry to express her advocacy.

This event, held both in person at the Massachusetts State House and streamed online via Zoom brought together over 100 policymakers, researchers, advocates, state officials, and community stakeholders from all across the nation.

Recordings of presentations and materials used are available for review online: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/the-2026-medicaid-summit.

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