MARCH 27, 2023
RENEWALS/DISABILITY COMMUNITY
>> GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. I WANT TO QUICKLY THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING TODAY. MY NAME IS SUSAN, I WORK AT THE MASSHEALTH OFFICE OF LONGTERM SERVICES AND SUPPORTS. AND I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY TO TALK THROUGH MASSHEALTH RENEWALS. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. AND WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
TODAY I AM GOING TO SPEAK TO WHAT A MASSHEALTH RENEWAL IS. DISCUSS WHY IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT THIS YEAR. AND GIVE YOU SOME REAL CONCRETE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP SUPPORT THE MEMBERS YOU SERVE IN PREPARING FOR AND UNDERSTANDING HOW IT COMPLETE RENEWALS AND REALLY FOCUS ON SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR OUR MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES. NEXT SLIDE.
WHO THIS INFORMATION IS FOR. THIS INFORMATION IS FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING WITH OUR MASSHEALTH MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY, IT IS INTENDED TO GIVE YOU SOME HELPFUL TIPS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP OUR MEMBERS MAINTAIN THEIR MASSHEALTH ELIGIBILITY. THERE'S NO IMPLICATION THAT BY GOING THROUGH THE PRESENTATION YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A MEMBER'S PRIVATE HEALTH INFORMATION. HOWEVER, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCESS A MEMBER'S HEALTH INFORMATION OR IF A MEMBER WOULD LIKE YOU TO, THERE'S INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO YOU COULD BECOME A CERTIFIED ASSISTANCE COUNSELOR IN THIS PRESENTATION AND ALSO SOME INFORMATION ABOUT IF A MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO DESIGNATE YOU AS AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, HOW YOU CAN DO THAT. NEXT SLIDE.
SO, WHAT IS A MASSHEALTH RENEWAL? FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES MASSHEALTH TO CHECK WHETHER A MEMBER IS STILL ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH. WE REFER TO THIS CHECK AS A RENEWAL, SOMETIMES WE CALL IT AN ANNUAL REVIEW, WE ALSO REFER TO AS A REDETERMINATION. RENEWALS GENERALLY NEED TO OCCUR EVERY YEAR. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, MASSHEALTH MEMBERS RECEIVED THEIR RENEWAL FORMS IN THE MAIL. RENEWALS OCCUR AT THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL AND SENT TO THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD. MANY MEMBERS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. THIS MEANS, THAT MASSHEALTH WILL AUTOMATICALLY PROCESS A MEMBER'S RENEWAL BY MATCHING THEIR INFORMATION AGAINST STATE AND FEDERAL DATA. IF THE INFORMATION MATCHES, MASSHEALTH MAY NOT NEED ANYMORE INFORMATION AND NO ACTION IS NECESSARY. WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES. IF MASSHEALTH DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO AUTOMATICALLY RENEW A MEMBER, MEMBERS WILL NEED TO REPORT NEW INFORMATION. AND THEY WILL GET A RENEWAL FORM IN A BLUE ENVELOPE. I DO IN THIS SLIDE PRESENTATION ON SLIDE 10, THERE'S AN IMAGE OF THE ENVELOPE THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL TO YOU. NEXT SLIDE.
THE REASON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RENEWALS THIS YEAR IS BECAUSE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTED CONTINUOUS COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS. IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUIREMENTS, MASSHEALTH PUT PROTECTIONS IN PLACE THAT PREVENTED MEMBER'S COVERAGE FROM ENDING. THE PROTECTIONS HAVE BEEN IN PLACE SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2020, A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS, AND THE CONTINUOUS COVERAGE REQUIREMENT END ON APRIL ONE, 2023. MASSHEALTH IS RESTARTING OUR STANDARD ELIGIBILITY RENEWAL PROCESS. ALL OF OUR MEMBERS WILL BE RENEWED TO ENSURE THEY STILL QUALIFIED FOR THE CURRENT BENEFIT. HOWEVER, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, THERE WILL BE MEMBERS WHO WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. AND I'LL GET INTO THAT A LITTLE MORE IN THE NEXT SLIDE. RENEWALS FOR THE MASSHEALTH MEMBERS WILL MAKE PLACE OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS. WE'LL START IN APRIL 2023, THEY WILL GO THROUGH MARCH OF 2024. THIS MEANS THE MASSHEALTH MEMBERS CAN GET THE RENEWAL FORMS IN MAIL DURING THIS ONEYEAR PERIOD. I HEARD IT SAID BEFORE, I WILL SAY, THIS IS A MARATHON, NOT A PRINT. NOT EVERYONE WILL RECEIVE RENEWAL FORM S COMING APRIL 1. IT COULD BE AT ANYTIME DURING THIS 12MONTH PERIOD. NEXT SLIDE.
SO, THIS IS A NOTE ON AUTOMATIC RENEWALS. AS I STATED BEFORE, WHEN POSSIBLE, MASSHEALTH WILL ATTEMPT TO AUTOMATICALLY PROCESS A MEMBER'S RENEWAL THROUGH MULTIPLE AVENUES. ONE OF THE AVENUES IS MASSHEALTH WILL AUTOMATICALLY PROCESS BY MATCHING A MEMBER'S INFORMATION AGAINST STATE AND FEDERAL DATABASES. WE ALSO HAVE CERTAIN MEMBERS WHO BELONG TO THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES WHO MAY BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED. THIS INCLUDES MEMBERS WHO ARE RECEIVING SSI THROUGH THE UNITED STATES SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THEY ARE 65 AND OLDER. AND HAVE LIMITED INCOME AND RESOURCES. OR BECAUSE THEY ARE DISABLED AND HAVE LIMITED INCOME AND RESOURCES. INCLUDING MEMBERS WHO ARE RECEIVING TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE OF NEEDY FAMILY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND MEMBERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY OR IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO NOTE, IF THESE MEMBERS DO RECEIVE A BLUE ENVELOPE WITH THE RENEWAL NOTICE OR ANY OTHER MAIL FROM MASSHEALTH, THEY MUST RESPOND. IN GENERAL, THESE FOLKS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED AND WILL NOT RECEIVE A BLUE ENVELOPE. NEXT SLIDE.
AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT, I'M GOING TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT A FEW AREAS THAT YOU, AS FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, MEETING WITH THE MASSHEALTH MEMBERS, CAN HELP MEMBERS STAY COVERED. THE FIRST IS, TO HELP MEMBERS PREPARE FOR THEIR RENEWALS. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, NUMBER ONE, WHEN YOU INTERACT WITH MEMBERS ONEONONE, REMIND THEM TO REPORT ALL CHANGES TO MASSHEALTH, REMIND THEM TO UPDATE THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION WITH MASSHEALTH, AND READ ALL MAIL THAT IS COMING FROM MASSHEALTH. AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU CAN COME AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THEIR MAIL WHEN IT DOES COME FROM MASSHEALTH. AND IN SPACES WHERE MEMBERS VISIT, IF YOU DO HAPPEN TO HAVE A PHYSICAL LOCATION WHERE MEMBERS COME TO, YOU CAN POST A FLYER ABOUT MASSHEALTH RENEWALS TO LET FOLKS KNOW IT'S COMING. AND MASSHEALTH HAS PRODUCED THIS REALLY FANTASTIC PHASE ONE TOOLKIT THAT HAS FLYER S SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PURPOSE. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE JUST ARE LIVE WITH THE PHASE TWO TOOLKIT, LATER ON IN THE SLIDE DECK, THERE WILL BE A LINK. AND DOWNLOADABLE FLYERS, POSTERS, AND MATERIALS IN NINE LANGUAGES AND ALSO HAS SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES AND OLDER ADULTS. IN YOUR MEMBERFACING COMMUNICATIONS, WHETHER IT BE A NEWSLETTERS, EMAILS TO MEMBERS, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO PUT INFORMATION ABOUT MASSHEALTH RENEWALS TO LET FOLK KNOW THIS IS COMING. AGAIN, IN THE PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO TOOLKITS, THERE'S SAMPLE THING. I WANT TO SAY THIS, THE SLIDE DECK WILL BE SENT TO ALL AND THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION IN HERE, SO, PLEASE USE IT AS A RESOURCE. THERE'S LIVE LINKS THROUGHOUT. HOW DO YOU HELP A MEMBER UPDATE INFORMATION? WE TELL YOU LET FOLKS KNOW TO UPDATE IT. HERE ARE THE EASIEST WAY FOR PEOPLE TO UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION WITH MASSHEALTH. FOR MEMBERS UNDER AGE 65 YEARS OLD, THEIR HIX ACCOUNT IS THE EASIEST WAY TO UPDATE THE CONTACT INFORMATION. IF THEY DON'T HAVE ONE, THEY CAN CREATE ONE BY FOLLOWING THE LINK ON THE BACK OF THE MASSHEALTH NOTICE OR CALLING THIS PHONE NUMBER. 8443651841. AND FOR ALL OF THE MEMBERS, WHETHER 65 AND OLDER OR UNDER 65, THEY CAN CALL MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE. 8008412900. OR HELP FROM A CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELOR OR NAVIGATOR. I WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELORS AND NAVIGATORS. THERE'S A LINK HERE THAT CAN DIRECT FOLKS TO THE CACs AND NAVIGATORS. NEXT SLIDE.
HERE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SLIDES IN THE DECK. IT IS AN IMAGE OF THE BLUE ENVELOPE. SO, THIS IS WHAT MEMBERS WILL BE SENT AND WILL CONTAIN THE MASSHEALTH RENEWAL INFORMATION. FOR FOLKS AUTORENEWED THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT BEFORE, WON'T RECEIVE THIS BLUE ENVELOPE. THEY WILL GET A NOTICE IN THE MAIL LETTING THEM KNOW THEY HAVE BEEN AUTO RENEWED. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE.
HOW CAN YOU HELP MASSHEALTH MEMBERS WHEN THEY DO RECEIVE THEIR RENEWALS? YOU CAN HELP THEM READ AND UNDERSTAND THE MAIL THEY RECEIVED FROM MASSHEALTH. YOU CAN HELP TRANSLATE OR IF THEY ARE VISION IMPAIRED, HELP THEM REQUEST LARGE PRINT OR BRAILLE NOTICES. YOU CAN WALK THROUGH THE NOTICES WITH THEM. CIRCLE THE DATE THEY NEED TO RENEW BY. AND WALK THEM THROUGH INSTRUCTIONS AND MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT ACTION THEY NEED TO TAKE. YOU CAN ALSO HELP MEMBERS MAKE A CONCRETE PLAN. AND HELP THEM DECIDE HOW THEY ARE GOING TO COMPLETE THEIR RENEWAL. WHETHER IT WOULD BE ONLINE, OVER THE PHONE, OR ON PAPER.
AND YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORT RESOURCES. IF THERE'S AN AREA THAT A MEMBER IS ASKING ABOUT THAT YOU CAN WANT ANSWER, YOU CAN CONNECT THEM WITH THE MASSHEALTH RESOURCES THAT EXIST TO SUPPORT THEM. AND GONE, IN A AGAIN, IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES, I WILL TALK THROUGH EACH RESOURCE AND THE RESOURCES INCLUDE THE MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS, CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELORS AND NAVIGATORS AND THE MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. NEXT SLIDE.
HERE'S THE MORE DETAILS ABOUT HOW TO HELP MEMBERS COMPLETE THE RENEWALS. AND HOW A MEMBER CAN COMPLETE THE RENEWAL. FOR MEMBERS AGE 65 AND UNDER, YOU CAN HELP I'M SORRY. UNDER 65 AND UNDERSTAND, GO TO THE HIX SYSTEM TO SUBMIT RENEWAL. MEMBERS OVER 65, RESIDING IN NURSING FACILITIES OR IN A HOME AND COMMUNITYBASED SERVICES WAIVER, THE MEMBER... WILL BE ABLE TO ESUBMIT THEIR RENEWAL. A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THE HIX ONLINE RENEWAL, BUT WILL STILL HAVE AN OPTION TO SUBMIT THEIR RENEWAL ONLINE. AND THE LINK FOR THE ESUBMISSION IS RIGHT HERE. MEMBERS CAN COMPLETE THE APPLICATION AND MAIL BACK TO THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROCESSING CENTER. MEMBERS CAN CALL THE MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TO COMPLETE THE RENEWAL OVER THE PHONE. OR MEMBERS CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A MASSHEALTH REPRESENTATIVE AND BOTH OF THESE, THERE'S A LINK WHERE MEMBERS CAN SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO COMPLETE THE RENEWAL FORM WITH A MASSHEALTH REPRESENTATIVE AND CAN BE DONE OVER THE PHONE... ONLINE, OR LIKE A VIDEO, IN JULY, THERE CAN BE INPERSON SCHEDULING. OKAY.
NEXT SLIDE. SO, I'M GOING TO TALK QUICKLY THROUGH THE OVERVIEW OF TIMELINES FOR RENEWAL. LIKE I SAID A COUPLE OF TIMES, WHEN POSSIBLE, MASSHEALTH WILL AUTOMATICALLY PROCESS A MEMBER'S RENEWAL. IF MASSHEALTH CAN'T AUTOMATICALLY PROCESS A RENEWAL, THE MEMBER WILL RECEIVE A BLUE ENVELOPE IN THE MAIL, WITH THE RENEWAL FORM TO COMPLETE AND RETURN TO MASSHEALTH. TYPICALLY, THE MEMBER WILL HAVE 45 DAYS TO RESPOND TO THE RENEWAL NOTICE. FOLKS WHO ARE IN A LONGTERM CARE FACILITY TYPICALLY HAVE 30 DAYS TO RESPOND. IF MEMBERS RESPOND TO RENEWAL NOTICES, BUT MASSHEALTH STILL NEEDS MORE INFORMATION FROM THE MEMBER, MEMBERS WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 90 DAYS TO RESPOND. AND WE REFER TO THAT AS THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. IF HOPEFULLY, THIS ALL WORKS OUT AND MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE THE MASSHEALTH APPROVAL NOTICES AND EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL SET; HOWEVER, IF FOLKS DON'T RESPOND, THEY WILL RECEIVE A TERMINATION NOTICE. TYPICALLY, MEMBERS WILL BE GIVEN AT LEAST 14 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING A TERMINATION NOTICE BEFORE THEIR MASSHEALTH BENEFITS STOP. AND DURING THE RECONSIDERATION PERIOD, A MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR FAILURE TO RESPOND CAN CONTACT MASSHEALTH TO COMPLETE THEIR RENEWAL AND WILL BE REINSTATED TO THE DAY THEY WERE CLOSED AS LONG AS THEY CONTACT MASSHEALTH WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE MASSHEALTH COVERAGE TERMINATING. IF A MEMBER EITHER DIDN'T RECEIVE OR JUST DIDN'T RESPOND TO THE CONTENTS OF THE BLUE ENVELOPE OR TO THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, AS LONG AS THEY REACH OUT TO MASSHEALTH WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE MASSHEALTH COVERAGE TERMINATING, THEY CAN BE REINSTATED. NEXT SLIDE.
GREAT. THIS THE SLIDE THAT LISTS THE RESOURCES THAT EXIST TO HELP MEMBERS WITH THEIR RENEWALS. THE FIRST ONE IS, THE MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS. THE MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH PHONE, VIRTUAL, OR INPERSON ASSISTANCE WITH THE APPLICATION FROM MASSHEALTH STAFF. WE RECOMMEND FOLKS SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AHEAD OF TIME AND THIS IS THE LINK ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. AND THERE ARE SIX MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE AND YOU CAN FIND THE NEAREST ONE AT THIS LINK RIGHT HERE. AND THERE'S ALSO CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELORS AND NAVIGATORS. AND CACs AND NAVIGATORS ARE COMMUNITYBASED RESOURCES TO HELP MEMBERS APPLY FOR AND RENEW HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS. THEY ARE TRAINED BY MASSHEALTH, BUT ARE NOT MASSHEALTH STAFF. HELP FROM CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELORS AND NAVIGATORS IS FREE, BUT MAY REQUIRE AN APPOINTMENT AND AGAIN AT THIS LINK RIGHT HERE, YOU CAN FIND THE NEAREST ORGANIZATION. THE THIRD RESOURCE IS THE MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. IF MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR MASSHEALTH RENEWAL THAT YOU CANNOT ANSWER, YOU CAN HAVE THEM CALL THE MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER. AND THE PHONE NUMBER IS 8008412900. ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF LANGUAGES AND CALLERS MAY REQUEST A TRANSLATOR AT ANYTIME. NEXT SLIDE.
AND HERE IS A SLIDE JUST AROUND SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION SUPPORTS. FOR THE TOOLKIT, THE TOOLKIT WE TOUCHED ON EARLIER IN THE PRESCRIPTION PRESENTATION, IT IS IN THERE'S MATERIALS IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT LANGUAGES LISTED HERE. COMMUNITY OUTREACH THROUGH HEALTH CARE FOR ALL WILL INCLUDE LOCAL LANGUAGE TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS. WE ARE ISSUING GRANTS TO COMMUNITYBASED ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE FOCUSSED ON IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES. AND MASSHEALTH WILL PUBLISH VLOGS INCORPORATING ASL AND OFFER LIVE ASL TRANSLATION DURING WEBINARS. TRANSLATION SERVICES. RENEWAL FORMS WILL BE MAILED IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH AND ARE AVAILABLE IN LARGE PRINT OR BRAILLE. RENEWAL PACKAGES ARE ALSO INCLUDE BABBLE NOTICES, WHICH WILL LIST A WHOLE BUNCH OF LANGUAGES THAT INDICATE KEY INFORMATION CAN BE TRANSLATED FOR MEMBERS. FOR MEMBERS WHO REQUIRE TRANSLATION OF REMEMBER TOS, THEY FORMS, THEY CAN RECEIVE FREE TRANSLATION SERVICES THROUGH THE MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER HAS REPRESENTATIVES WHO SPEAK A WIDE VARIETY OF LANGUAGES AND THERE'S LANGUAGE LINE SERVICES AVAILABLE.
THE CERTIFIED APPLICATION COUNSELOR LIST WILL BE INDICATING WHICH LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN. I DON'T THINK THAT'S QUITE LIVE YET, BUT WILL BE. AND WE'RE HOSTING ENROLLMENT EVENTS WITH ONSITE TRANSLATORS AND FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO SPEAK ASL, MASSHEALTH OFFERS ONDEMAND VRI IN MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS. NEXT SLIDE.
SO, OUR HEALTH PLANS AT MASSHEALTH ARE ALSO REACHING OUT TO MEMBERS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR RENEWALS. OUR HEALTH PLAN PARTNERS, ACOs, MCOs, SENIOR CARE ORGANIZATIONS, ONE CARE PLANS, AND PACE ORGANIZATIONS. THE PLANS ARE ACTIVELY OUTREACH ING AND ASSISTING THEIR ENROLLEES TO KEEP THEM INFORMED ABOUT WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE BLUE ENVELOPES AND MAKE SURE THEY SUBMIT INFORMATION BACK TO MASSHEALTH TO MAINTAIN THEIR MASSHEALTH COVERAGE. MASSHEALTH IS ACTIVELY SHARING INFORMATION WITH OUR PLAN PARTNERS AROUND WHEN A MEMBER IS BEING SENT THEIR BLUE ENVELOPE. AND THE PLAN PARTNER S ARE CONDUCTING CALLS, EMAILS, TEXTS, OUTREACH TO THEIR MEMBERS. NEXT SLIDE. IF A MEMBER NO LONGER QUALIFIES FOR MASSHEALTH, YOU CAN DIRECT THEM TO FIND AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE COVERAGE. MEMBERS UNDER 65, AFFORDABLE PLAN OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CONNECTOR. (SLIGHT LAPSE IN CAPTION CONNECTIVITY).
>> THERE'S PROGRAMS WITHIN MASSHEALTH THAT A MEMBER MAY QUALIFY FOR BASED ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES. NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE TOUCHES ON CONSIDERATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES PREPARING FOR RENEWALS. THE FIRST IS, AGREEMENTS TO SHARE INFORMATION. MEMBERS MAY HAVE SOMEONE IN THEIR LIVES, WHO THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP ASSIST THEM WITH MANAGING THEIR MASSHEALTH. AND IN ORDER FOR MASSHEALTH TO BE SHARE INFORMATION WITH SOMEONE, MASSHEALTH NEEDS TO HAVE EITHER A PERMISSION TO SHARE FORM OR AN AUTHORIZE ED REPRESENTATIVE DESIGNATION FORM ON FILE. I ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE IN A FEW NOT THE NEXT SLIDE, THE SLIDE AFTER THAT TALKS THROUGH EACH OF THE FORMS. HERE ARE THE LINKS HERE FOR THE FORMS. THE OTHER SLIDE WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THESE TWO. THE PERMISSION TO SHARE INFORMATION FORM, SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEMBER WITH THE PERSON ON THE FORM. THE DESIGNATION FORM, SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE PERSON LISTED ON THE FORM AND FOR THE PERSON TO MAKE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBER. AND ACCOMMODATIONS. MASSHEALTH HAS ACCOMMODATIONS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THESE ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDE A DISABILITY OMBUDSMAN WHO CAN PROVIDE ASSISTANCE BY EXPLAINING MASSHEALTH PROCESSES AND REQUIREMENTS. AND HELPING MASSHEALTH APPLICANTS OR MEMBERS FILL OUT FORMS. THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE OMBUDSMAN IS RIGHT HERE IN THIS SLIDE. WE ALSO HAVE A TTY/TTD PHONE NUMBER FOR MEMBERS DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING. WE HAVE THE OPTION TO REQUEST LARGE PRINT OR BRAILLE FORMS BY CALLING MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOUCHING ON THE VIDEO REMOTE INTERPRETING AND ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES AT ALL MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS. I WILL SKIP THE LAST SECTION HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE ON THIS, WHICH IS NEXT. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, WILL A MASSHEALTH REDETERMINATION REQUIRE THEM TO RENEW THEIR DISABILITY DETERMINATION? SO, THAT ACTUALLY DEPENDS UPON HOW A MEMBER'S DISABILITY IS DETERMINED AND WHO IT WAS COMPLETED BY. IF A MEMBER DISABILITY DETERMINATION WAS DETERMINED BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, OR THE MASSACHUSETTS COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND, THE MEMBER'S DISABILITY REVIEW WILL BE DONE BY THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND THAT IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM THE MASSHEALTH RENEWAL. IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE MRC, DISABILITY DETERMINATION SERVICE, MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION COMMISSION, PERFORMS THE CONTINUOUS DISABILITY CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW ON BEHALF OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. IF MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE MASSACHUSETTS REHAB COMMISSION'S DISABILITY DETERMINATION SERVICES NUMBER HERE LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. OR CONTACT THE MASSACHUSETTS REHAB COMMISSION'S OMBUDSMAN AT THIS NUMBER LISTED HERE. IF A MEMBER'S DISABILITY DETERMINATION WAS COMPLETED BY THE DISABILITY EVALUATION SERVICES AT UMASS MEDICAL SCHOOL, THE MEMBER MAY NEED TO COMPLETE A DISABILITY EVALUATION FORM. THEIR DISABILITY IS COMPLETED BY DES ON BEHALF OF MASSHEALTH. THIS PROCESS IS ALSO CALLED THE CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW.
IF A MEMBER NEEDS TO COMPLETE A CONTINUING DISABILITY RENEW, IT IT'LL BE MAILED TO THEM AND ARRIVE AT A SEPARATE TIME FROM THE MEMBER'S MASSHEALTH FINANCIAL REVIEW, WHICH WILL COME IN THE BIG BLUE ENVELOPE. WHETHER A MEMBER WILL RECEIVE A CONTINUING DISABILITY THIS YEAR DEPENDS ON SEVERAL FACTORS. INCLUDING THE EXPECTED DATE OF THEIR EXPECTED END DATE OF THEIR DISABILITY AND THE DATE ON THEIR MOST RECENT RENEW. IF THEY NEED TO COMPLETE A CONTINUING DISABILITY REVIEW, THEY WILL RECEIVE A NOTICE IN THE MAIL. IF THEY COMPLETE A REVIEWED DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND SELFATTEST TO THEIR DISABILITY OR ADMINISTRATIVELY APPROVAL, THEY SHOULD EXPECT A REVIEW THIS YEAR. CHILDREN UNDER 18, DO NOT NEED TO COMPLETE A REVIEW UNTIL THEY TURN 18.
WHERE TO GET HELP IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED HELP WITH THEIR DISABILITY REVIEW, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE DES HELPLINE AND THE NUMBER IS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE. THIS SLIDE SPEAKS TO MORE TO THE PERMISSION TO SHARE INFORMATION FORM AND THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE DESIGNATION. AND I THINK WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT MOST THINGS ON THE SLIDE. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP. YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THE MASSHEALTH ELIGIBILITY REDETERMINATION LIST. THE LINK IS HERE IN THE DECK. AND YOU CAN JOIN THE MASSHEALTH HEALTHCARE TRAINING FORUM LIST AND ATTEND TRAININGS. AGAIN, THE LINKS ARE HERE. OR YOU CAN BECOME PART OF THE CAC PROGRAM. AS WE TALKED QUICKLY ABOUT WHAT CACs DO, WE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN HAVING ANY ORGANIZATION BECOME A CAC ORGANIZATION. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, YOU CAN EMAIL AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED HERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. NEXT SLIDE.
DON'T WORRY, WE ARE GETTING CLOSE HERE. THE MASSHEALTH RENEWAL GUIDE, WHICH HAS JUST CAME OUT THIS PAST FRIDAY, IT IS A FANTASTIC TOOL THAT MASSHEALTH HAS PUT TOGETHER THAT GIVES SOME REALLY, REALLY INCREDIBLE INFORMATION WHEN YOU ARE HELPING MEMBERS COMPLETE THEIR RENEWALS. THE LINK IS LISTED RIGHT HERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. AND THE NEXT SLIDE. THIS IS THE LINK FOR OUR MASSHEALTH RENEWALS WEBSITE. AND ONE MORE SLIDE. IT GETS US TO THE PHASE TWO REDETERMINATION OUTREACH KIT. HERE IS THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE. I TOLD YOU THERE ARE SOME FANTASTIC MATERIAL S FOR YOU TO SHARE WITH YOUR MEMBERS. NEXT SLIDE. FINAL TIPS AND REMINDERS. IF MEMBERS ARE UNDER 65, THE FASTEST AND EASIEST WAY TO RENEW THE COVERAGE IS ONLINE USING THEIR HIX ACCOUNT. IF MEMBERS ARE OVER 65, IN A NURSING FACILITY OR HOME AND COMMUNITYBASED WAIVER, ESUBMISSION IS THE FASTEST AND EASIEST WAY TO SUBMIT RENEWALS. AND REMIND YOUR MEMBERS AS YOU MEET WITH THEM, IF THEY MOVED, CHANGED JOBS, HAD CHANGES IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD OVER THE PAST 23 YEARS, CONTACT MASSHEALTH TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THIS INFORMATION. AND DO THE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF RENEWALS THIS YEAR, MEMBERS MAY HAVE LONGER THAN USUAL HOLD TIMES AT MASSHEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND MEMBERS MAY NOT GET THEIR RENEWAL FORMS RIGHT AWAY, BUT SHOULD BE ON THE LOOKOUT FROM NOW UNTIL APRIL OF 2024. AND USE THE RESOURCES TO HELP MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE MASSHEALTH ENROLLMENT CENTERS, CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTERS, CACs AND NAVIGATORS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS. AND FOR HELPING TO GET THE WORD OUT TO OUR MEMBERS. AND NEXT SLIDE, I THINK WE ARE AT QUESTION S. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I THINK TOBY AND HEATHER ARE GOING TO HELP ME WITH QUESTIONS. I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT ALL IN THE CHAT.
>> I THINK WE ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT. SO, I'M GOING TO STOP FROM THE LAST START FROM THE LAST ONE. WE HAVEN'T DIRECTLY RESPONDED TO IN THE CHAT YET. THIS IS FROM RANDY, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BEFORE THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A BLUE ENVELOPE. I NEVER RECEIVED ONE. MOST RECENTLY, I GOT A LETTER SAYING WE'D NEED TO PAY A PREMIUM MONTHLY STARTING IN FEBRUARY. AND NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING NOTIFYING ME OF A RENEWAL REQUIREMENT. ANYBODY ELSE HAD THAT ISSUE OR HAVE YOU HEARD OF THAT ISSUE FROM ANYONE ELSE AS WELL? I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A SPECIFIC QUESTION WE NEED TO TAKE BACK, UNLESS HEATHER OR SUSAN, YOU HAVE INITIAL REACTIONS?
>> I CAN JUMP IN. ON THE RENEWAL, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR ANNUAL RENEWAL DATE IS. IF THEY JUST SAID YOU CAN EXPECT TO GET A BLUE ENVELOPE, BUT DIDN'T GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PREPARING YOU FOR THIS IS TO COME. OTHERWISE, YOU GET THE BLUE ENVELOPE. IF YOU ARE NOT AUTO RENEWED BASED ON YOUR ANNUAL RENEWAL DATE. ON THE PREMIUM PIECE, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT ONE BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THAT SEEMS TO BE SPECIFIC. IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT THERE WAS A CHANGE THAT WAS REPORTED. THE SYSTEM JUST RECALCULATED BECAUSE IT IS RUNNING SOME PROCESSES BEHIND THE SCENES. WE WOULDN'T KNOW WITHOUT LOOKING INTO THAT INDIVIDUAL CASE.
>> THANKS, HEATHER. THE NEXT QUESTION I'M SEEING IS, IF A PERSON WAS DETERMINED THROUGH SSA, HOWEVER DUE TO INCOME, NO LONGER RECEIVES SSI, WOULD THEIR DISABILITY STILL BE CURRENT STATUS?
>> IF THEY LOST THE SSI BECAUSE THEY WERE FOUND NO LONGER TO BE DISABLED DURING THE CONTINUOUS DISABILITY REVIEW, NO SSA WOULD NOT CONTINUE TO HAVE A VALID DISABILITY DETERMINATION FOR THEM. IF THEY LOST THEIR SSI FOR ANOTHER REASON, WE'D HAVE TO TAKE THAT BACK AND SEE HOW SSA POSTED THAT INFORMATION INTO THE HUB, WHICH IS THE FEDERAL DATA SERVICE, THAT WE MATCH ELIGIBILITY WITH. SSI CASES ARE HANDLED SEPARATELY FROM THOSE THAT WOULD BE PROCESSED THROUGH OUR ELIGIBILITY SYSTEM. AND DATA MATCHED WITH THE FEDERAL DATA SERVICE HUB.
>> THANKS, HEATHER. NEXT QUESTION I'M SEEING IS, IF THERE IS AN ARD FORM SUBMITTED, DO WE NEED TO COMPLETE A PSI FOR AN AGENCY?
>> IF THERE IS AN ARD FORM ON FILE AND HAS NOT BEEN DEACTIVATED BY THE MEMBER, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO COMPLETE A PSI.
>> THANKS, HEATHER. KEEP MOVING DOWN HERE. MY CONCERN IS ABOUT AUTOENROLLMENT INTO ONE CARE. HOW DOES IT WORK FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN A DAY PROGRAM AND THEY END UP AUTOENROLL ED IN ONE CARE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT IS A BIT OFF TOPIC FROM THIS PRESENTATION, BUT THERE WAS INFORMATION SHARED WITH OUR DAY HABILITATION, ADULT DAY HEALTH, ADULT FOSTER CARE PROVIDERS ABOUT PASSIVE ENROLLMENT. IF YOU WANT TO DROP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION IN THE CHAT TO ME, I CAN MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION GETS TO YOU.
>> THANKS, SUSAN. NEXT QUESTION I'M SEEING... WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MASSHEALTH, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID. I THINK THIS IS ONE I CAN ANSWER. SO, MASSHEALTH IS MASSACHUSETTS COMBINED MEDICAID AND CHIP PROGRAM. MEDICARE, A PROGRAM THAT IS ADMINISTERED AT THE STATE LEVEL AND IT IS JOINTLY FUNDED BY THE STATE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH A MATCHING PROGRAM. AND MEDICARE IS THE IT IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM, PRIMARILY FOR THOSE FEDERAL HEALTHCARE PROGRAM PRIMARILY FOR THOSE 65 AND OLDER. THERE ARE OTHER MEANS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICARE AS WELL. WE ARE HERE TALKING TO YOU TODAY ARE MASSHEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE, MEDICAID FOLKS. OKAY.
WE RESPONDED TO THIS IN THE CHAT, I DID WANT TO CALL IT OUT. FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN BECOMING CAC ORGANIZATIONS, THERE IS INFORMATION ON THE MASS.GOV WEBSITE. WE'LL POST THAT LINK IN THE CHAT. AND IF THERE IS IF THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS THAT COME UP AFTER OUTREACH, WE WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS GET THEIR NOTES RESPONDED TO OR ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO DOUBLECHECK THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO THE CORRECT CONTACT DETAILS LISTED ON THE MASS.GOV WEBSITE.
I'M SEEING... I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING TO THREADS. I THINK, HEATHER, YOU ADDRESSED THIS. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. ALL THE BLUE ENVELOPES GOING TO THE (INAUDIBLE).
>> NO, THEY ARE NOT.
>> I SEE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE CAC PROGRAM. IF WE BECOME A CAC, WHO AND HOW THE LABOR WOULD BE COVERED? MAYBE JUST PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE CAC PROGRAM. THE CAC PROGRAM IS VOLUNTARY DUE TO FEDERAL REGULATIONS, WE AT MASSHEALTH ARE UNABLE TO PAY CAC ORGANIZATIONS OR THE INDIVIDUALS THAT TRAIN TO BECOME CACs. ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE BROADER MASSHEALTH COMMUNITY OFTEN CHOOSE TO BECOME CAC ORGANIZATIONS. THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO HELP THE FOLKS THEY WORK WITH NAVIGATING THE MASSHEALTH LANDSCAPE.
I THINK WE ALREADY COVERED THE QUESTION FROM VICTORIA. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE QUESTION, GUARDIANS OR REP S RECEIVE THE BLUE ENVELOPE OR JUST THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD FOR THE MEMBER. I BELIEVE JUST THE HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD. YES.
>> YES.
>> OKAY. I HAVE A QUESTION DIRECTLY THAT ASKS HOW LONG DOES AN ARD LAST?
>> THERE'S NO EXPIRATION ON AN ARD. HOWEVER, IF THE MEMBER NO LONGER WISHES TO SOMEONE TO BE DESIGNATED AS AN ARD, THEY CONTACT US AND WE CAN DEACTIVATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU. QUESTION FROM JENNIFER, IF SOMEONE MOVES FROM SSI TO SSDI WITH NO MORE ASSET LIMIT, THOSE THE $2,000 ASSET LIMIT STILL APPLY WITH MASSHEALTH?
>> SOMEBODY IS RECEIVING SSI, THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR MASSHEALTH REGARDLESS OF THE AGE AND PROVIDED MASSHEALTH. IF THEY LOSE THE SSI AND MOVE TO SSDI AND UNDER THE AGE OF 65, THERE IS NO ASSET TEST FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 65. IF THEY ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65, THERE IS AN ASSET TEST. AND THAT IS THE $2,000 AND THE $3,000 LIMITS.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. I'M SEEING A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE CARE ENROLLMENT. AGAIN, THAT'S PROBABLY A QUESTION FOR ANOTHER FORUM. WE ARE HERE TRYING TO COVER MASSHEALTH RENEWALS AND REDETERMINATIONS. WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE THE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS BACK TO OUR ONE CARE COLLEAGUES. SUSAN, YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING THERE?
>> I DID WANT TO SAY, I'M TRYING TO GRAB EVERYBODY'S EMAIL FROM THE CHAT TO SEND OUT THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED LAST WEEK. SO, I'LL MAKE SURE I GET EVERYBODY'S EMAIL ADDRESS THAT DROPPED IN HERE AND FORWARD OUT THE EMAIL. THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY ALL OF OUR DAY HABILITATION, ADULT DAY HEALTH PROVIDERS, ADULT FOSTER CARE AND ADULT GROUP FOSTER CARE, IT WAS FRIDAY MARCH 24 FROM THE LTSS SUPPORT EMAIL.
>> OKAY. MOVING TO THE NEXT RENEWALS QUESTION. IF PEOPLE KNOW THEY HAVE INFORMATION TO UPDATE, DO THEY NEED TO WAIT TO GET THE BLUE ENVELOPE OR CAN THEY DO IT PROACTIVELY? THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION. WE ARE ENCOURAGING, ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING ALL MEMBERS, IF THEY HAVE NEW INFORMATION TO GO AND UPDATE THAT BY ANY MEANS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HAVING UPTODATE INFORMATION WILL TEND TO SMOOTH THE PROCESS FOR THAT MEMBER'S RENEWAL. MEMBERS UNDER 65 CAN UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION ONLINE, OVER THE PHONE, AT A MEMBER ENROLLMENT CENTER. MEMBERS 65 AND OLDER, CAN UPDATE THEIR INFORMATION OVER THE PHONE BY CALLING MASSHEALTH OR BY MAKING AN APPOINTMENT THAT A AT A MEMBER ENROLLMENT CENTER. GREAT QUESTION, YES, WE REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO UPDATE INFORMATION PROACTIVELY IF THEY CAN.
GIVEN SUSAN'S RESPONSE, I WILL MOVE PASS SOME OF THE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT ONE CARE AUTOENROLLMENT AND DEFER THAT TO FOLKS WHO CAN PROPERLY ANSWER THOSE. I'M SEEING QUESTION HERE FROM WHERE ARE THE ENVELOPES BEING SENT. OUR DAUGHTER IS IN A GROUP HOME, THOUGH I'M THE GUARDIAN. I BELIEVE THE ANSWER TO THIS HEATHER, YOU TAKE THAT ONE.
>> THANKS. THE BLUE ENVELOPES ARE BEING SENT TO WHATEVER MAILING ADDRESS YOU HAVE PROVIDED US. SO, WHEN YOU FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, YOU PROVIDE THE RESIDENTIAL AND A MAILING ADDRESS. WE MAIL TO THE MAILING ADDRESS THAT IS IDENTIFIED. SO, IF YOUR AS A GUARDIAN, IF YOU ARE THE MAILING ADDRESS, THEN WE'D SEND IT THERE.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. SEEING ANOTHER QUESTION. IF YOU HAVE AN ARD FORM, IF THERE IS AN ARD FORM SUBMITTED TO MASSHEALTH, WILL THE BLUE ENVELOPES BE SENT TO THE REP AS THE FORM FILLED OUT AS A REP AGENCY? HEATHER, ARE YOU ABLE TO TAKE THAT ONE?
>> I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
>> IF FOLKS CAN IF WE ARE UNABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION DIRECTLY, FEEL FREE TO CLARIFY, APPLY TO THE INITIAL COMMENT OR ADD A NEW QUESTION IN THE CHAT AND WE'LL TRY TO GET TO IT. WE JUST SENT IN ARD FORMS FOR THE SON, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PROCESS THESE? HEATHER, YOU HAVE ANY GO AHEAD.
>> I WOULD SAY TYPICALLY 15 NO MORE THAN 1520 DAYS IF IT HAS NOT BEEN PROCESSED BY THEN, YOU CAN CONTACT US.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. CONTINUING DOWN, A FEW MORE QUESTION S, PEOPLE SUBMITTING EMAIL ADDRESSES RELATED TO ONE CARE AUTOENROLLMENT. I BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE BLUE ENVELOPE BEING SENT TO ME OR OUR DAUGHTER'S GROUP HOME. WE CAN'T SPEAK TO SPECIFIC MEMBER CASES ON THIS CALL. IT WILL BE SENT TO WHATEVER ADDRESS MASSHEALTH HAS ON FILE FOR THAT MEMBER.
THERE'S A QUESTION HERE ABOUT THE PERIOD OF EFFECTIVENESS FOR NEW PSI. HISTORICALLY, WE USED EXTENDED DATES, FIVE YEARS ON PSI FORMS TO AVOID THE BURDEN OF HAVING TO RENEW MORE FREQUENTLY, WITH THE MEMBER'S PERMISSION, OF COURSE. A QUESTION ABOUT THE DATES ON THE PSI FORMS. HEATHER, YOU WANT TO TAKE IT?
>> PSI ARE GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. I THINK SOMEONE MAY HAVE DIRECT MESSAGED ME A QUESTION. WHAT IS THE INCOME/ASSET LIMIT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMMON HEALTH/MASSHEALTH AND NO LONGER HAVE SSI AND ARE UNDER 65.
>> IF YOU ARE UNDER 65 AND APPLY FOR COMMON HEALTH, THERE'S NO ASSET TEST FOR THE COMMON HEALTH. AND ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S EFFECTIVELY NO INCOME LIMIT BECAUSE THE INCOME LIMIT IS USED TO CALCULATE A PREMIUM OBLIGATION.
>> THANKS, HEATHER. NEXT QUESTION I'M SEEING, HOW DOES AN OVER 65 DISABLED PERSON QUALIFY FOR COMMON HEALTH SO THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ASSET LIMIT?
>> WHAT IS THAT OVER THE AGE OF 65, TOBY?
>> YES. HOW DOES AN OVER 65 DISABLED PERSON QUALIFY FOR COMMON HEALTH SO THEY DON'T HAVE THE ASSET LIMIT?
>> INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 65 WHO QUALIFY FOR COMMON HEALTH DO NOT HAVE AN ASSET TEST EITHER. WE RECEIVED SPECIAL FEDERAL AUTHORITY TO WAIVE THE ASSET TEST FOR COMMON HEALTH ELIGIBILITY. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE OVER THE AGE OF 65, YOU DO HAVE TO EITHER BE YOU DO HAVE TO BE WORKING IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR COMMON HEALTH. WE WILL BE EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE THOSE WHO ARE NOT WORKING IF THEY ARE LONGTIME PARTICIPANTS OF THE PROGRAM, BUT THAT HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. I'M SEEING ANOTHER QUESTION HERE. AS A PROVIDER OF SERVICE, IS THERE A WAY TO IDENTIFY THE REDETERMINATION DATE FOR OUR CONSUMERS THROUGH BATCH REPORTING OR OTHER MEAN S.
>> IF YOU ARE USE EVS, ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION SYSTEM TO CHECK ELIGIBILITY, THE RENEWAL DATE IS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN THAT SYSTEM. YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A BATCH REQUEST AND GET RENEWAL DATES. I'M SEEING ANOTHER QUESTION HERE.
>> I WANT TO UPDATE ADDRESSES ON SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS PRIOR TO RENEWALS. I'M AN ARD FOR ALL. I BELIEVE I EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE IN DOING THIS ONLINE BECAUSE I COULDN'T REUSE MY EMAIL ADDRESS. HAVE WE SEEN ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THIS AND IS THERE A WORKAROUND? I BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE TO TAKE THAT ONE BACK AND LOOK INTO IT. I WILL SAY, IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING DOING THINGS ONLINE, OFTEN CALLING THE MASSHEALTH CONTACT CENTER IS ANOTHER OPTION. BOTH FOR MEMBERS OVER AND UNDER 65.
OKAY. SEEING A QUESTION AGAIN ABOUT PSI FORMS. TO REITERATE THE ANSWER FROM HEATHER, PSI FORMS ARE GOOD FOR 12 MONTHS.
WE HAVE A MEMBER WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO IS UNDER 65 AND LIVES AT HOME WITH HIS PARENTS WHO CLAIM HIM AS A DEPENDENT ON THE TAXES. THE GUARDIANS/MOTHER WAS TOLD THE PARENT S 'INCOME AND ASSETS WILL BE USED FOR HIS MASSHEALTH REDETERMINATION. IS THIS INFORMATION ACCURATE?
>> I CAN ANSWER GENERALLY BECAUSE EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE AND WE'D HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE SPECIFICS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE ANY SORT OF CONCRETE ANSWER, BUT THE WAY THAT WE DO ELIGIBILITY FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNDER 65 IS WE BASE IT ON TAX FILING STATUS. SO, IF THE DEPENDENT IS CLAIMED BY HIS PARENTS, THEN YES, WE USE THEIR INCOME IN THE ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THROUGH DIRECT MESSAGE. FOLKS, PLEASE WHEN YOU WRITE QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT, PLEASE TYPE IT IN TO MAKE SURE IT IS DIRECTED TO EVERYONE. SO OTHERS CAN SEE THE QUESTION AS WELL. THE QUESTION READS, RECENTLY BEEN TOLD FOR A MEMBER WHO BEGAN ON MASSHEALTH WITH SSI BUT RECENTLY TRANSITIONED TO SSDI, DUE TO WORK HISTORY, THEY NEED TO BEGIN A TOTALLY NEW APPLICATION TO MASSHEALTH. DOES THIS SOUND ACCURATE?
>> YES, IT DOES. WHEN THEY WERE ON SSI, THEY WERE AUTOMATICALLY GRANTED MASSHEALTH AND NOW THEY ARE NO LONGER GETTING SSI, THEY HAVE TO APPLY DIRECTLY TO MASSHEALTH IN ORDER TO CONTINUE RECEIVING BENEFITS.
>> THANK YOU, HEATHER. I'M SEEING ANOTHER COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS CAN AROUND PSI. IF AN EXPIRATION DATE IS PUT ON THE PSI AFTER 12 MONTHS, WOULD THAT BE HONORED?
>> I WILL HAVE TO TAKE THAT ONE BACK.
>> THANKS. AND FOR THOSE QUESTIONS, WE SAY WE'LL TAKE BACK, WHEN WE UPLOAD THE SLIDES AND THIS RECORDING, NOT THE Q&A PORTION, BUT THE ORIGINAL RECORDING OF THE PRESENTATION, WE'LL ALSO BE UPLOADING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE RECEIVED AND OUR RESPONSES. THE RENEWALS WEBSITE LINK, WHICH I SHARED IN THE CHAT, WILL ALSO BE PERIODICALLY UPDATED WITH AN EXTENSIVE Q&A THAT IS DRAWN IN PART FROM QUESTIONS WE ARE RECEIVING IN SESSIONS LIKE THIS. ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE PSI THAT ASKS ABOUT SECTION 6 ON THE NEW PSI FORM. IT SAYS PERMISSION, 12 MONTHS OR END TO ENTER DATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SECTION 6 IS ON THE FORM IF MASSHEALTH WILL NOT HONOR A DATE BEYOND ONE YEAR.
>> YES, WE'LL TAKE THAT ONE BACK AND PROVIDE CLARIFICATION.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THE FINAL QUESTION I'M SEEING HERE IS WHEN IS THAT NOT WORKING REQUIREMENT FOR COMMON HEALTH EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED?
>> WE DO NOT HAVE AN IMPLEMENTATION DATE YET.
>> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO TRY TO SKIM THROUGH THE CHAT TO SEE IF I MISSED ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. OTHER MASSHEALTH FOLKS, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN IF THERE WAS A QUESTION I MISSED.
I SAID THAT, A COUPLE OF MORE QUESTIONS CAME IN. A QUESTION THAT READS, A PARENT OF AN ADULT CHILD WITH A DISABILITY, IF THE PARENT CLAIMS THEM ON THEIR TAX RETURN, THEIR PARENTS INCOME WOULD COUNT AND THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET MASSHEALTH?
>> THAT IS NOT THE CASE. AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC SITUATION. IT IS BASED ON A NUMBER OF ELIGIBILITY FACTORS. EVERY DETERMINATION IS UNIQUE AND BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. A DISABLED CHILD MAY QUALIFY FOR COMMON HEALTH, WHICH DOES HAVE EFFECTIVELY HAVE NO INCOME LIMIT. THEY COULD POTENTIALLY QUALIFY FOR MASSHEALTH, WE CAN'T SAY IF THEY WILL OR WON'T. HOWEVER, WHAT WE CAN CONFIRM, THE ELIGIBILITY METHODOLOGY THAT WE USE FOR UNDER 65 IS BASED ON TAX FILING RULES. THAT'S THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENT. AND LOOKS INTO LOOKS AT THE INDIVIDUAL'S FILING TAXES AND THE DEPENDENTS THEY CLAIM.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. AND I'M SEEING A FINAL QUESTION HERE. YOU PROBABLY ALREADY ANSWERED THIS, WHEN WILL THE BLUE ENVELOPES GO OUT? SO, GREAT QUESTION. BLUE ENVELOPE S WILL GO OUT OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR. SO, STARTING ON APRIL 1ST THIS YEAR, A FEW DAY S. ALL THE WAY THROUGH APRIL 1ST OF NEXT YEAR. AND THEN EACH YEAR THEREAFTER. THIS IS MASSHEALTH MOVING BACK TOWARDS THE PROCESS THAT WAS IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. MEMBERS ARE RENEWED ON A YEARLY BASIS.
>> TOBY, HEATHER, EVERYONE ON THE CALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK THAT WAS THE PERFECT QUESTION TO END ON. AND I KNOW I HAVE A LOT OF ACTION ITEMS AFTER THIS. AND REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU EVERYONE. HAVE A GREAT REST OF YOUR DAY.