Massachusetts 2009 Health Policy Priorities

Go to Massachusetts page »

• FY 2010 Budget
• 12-month Continuous Eligibility
• MassHealth Expansion to 21
• Children's Medical Security Plan (CMSP) Improvements
• Immunization Access
• Coordination of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs
• Asthma Care Management
• Childhood Obesity Prevention

The Governor signed a $27 billion FY 2010 budet on June 29, 2009, which is $400 million less than the budget approved by the House and Senate.  Below are highlights from the House and Senate budgets.

• The House provided $23.9 million for Early Intervention services ($6.3 million more than the Senate budget).  The Senate included language in its budget that would raise the amount health insurance companies must contribute to Early Intervention services.
• The House restored $3.4 million and the Senate $2.5 million for child and adolescent mental health services cut from the Governor's budget.
• The House and Senate provided $1 million to save a program that was cut from the Governor's budget which provides mental health consultative services in pre-schools.  This still represents a $1.9 million cut from the FY09 budget, so it will be difficult to maintain the current level of services provided through the program.
• The House included a provision in its budget that gives the Office of Medicaid the flexibility to make improvements to the Children's Medical Security Program.  This program provides coverage for children ineligible for other public programs.  The Senate did not include this provision, so it will need to be worked out in Conference Committee.
• The House and Senate restored $25 million in funding for the Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (the court ordered implementation of mental health services that meet EPSDT requirements).
• The House appropriated $9 million for Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments for pediatric hospitals and units.  The Senate budget did not include this funding.  DSH payments have been a critical revenue stream for children's hospitals with high volumes of Medicaid patients.
• The House and Senate budgets included similar, but not identical, language that would block Medicaid from requiring hospitals to accept MassHealth Fee-For-Service (FFS) rates from Medicaid managed care organizations.  Because MassHealth FFS rates reimburse care significantly below cost, this proposed policy would be devastating to many hospitals, especially those with high concentrations of Medicaid patients. 

• This legislation (HB 188) would establish 12-month continuous eligibility for children covered under Medicaid and CHIP.
• In June, this bill was sent to the Health Care Financing Committee, where it will be considered this fall.
  

• This bill (SB 54) would expand MassHealth (Medicaid) eligibility to cover youth through age 20.
• In May, this bill was referred to the Public Health Committee.  It will likely be heard in October.
  

• Advocates have filed legislation that would raise the CMSP benefit level to that of MassHealth (SB 537).
• A public hearing was held in July.  The Health Financing Committee is currently considering different options for this bill. 
  
• Additional Information: Health Care For All (Bill Fact Sheet)

• This bill (HB 3453) would require the Department of Public Health to establish a Massachusetts Immunization Registry and require providers to report immunization information to the registry.
• It would require health insurance companies to cover routine immunizations for children through age 18 and recommended immunizations for adults 19 and older without imposing cost-sharing.  It would also require health insurance companies to reimburse providers 100% of the reasonable and customary charges for administering these immunizations.
• The bill would establish a Vaccine Purchase Trust Fund, funded by an assessment on insurers, for purchasing and distributing vaccines for childhood immunizations and to cover the costs of a Massachusetts Immunization Registry.  It would also establish a Vaccine Purchase Advisory Council to advise on vaccine purchases.

• This bill (HB 3586) would require private insurers to reimburse mental health clinicians for collateral consultations, which improve care coordination for children with mental health needs.
• Collateral consultations include scheduled, in-person, or telephonic consultations between a mental health clinician and other individuals in the child's life (e.g. parents, teachers, pediatricians, etc.).

• This bill (HB 1028) would direct the Department of Public Health to develop a framework for the provision of asthma patient education and home-based environmental interventions and to disseminate the framework to health care organizations and insurers for implementation.
• This bill would also require health insurance companies to provide reimbursement for medical equipment needed for the control and treatment of asthma (e.g. nebulizers, allergen proof bedding) and for group and home-based asthma management education services.

• In April, the Public Health Council approved regulations to require public schools to regularly perform Body Mass Index screenings on all students, and to provide this information to parents.
• This effort is part of the Administration's 'Mass in Motion', a statewide obesity prevention program for children and adults.      

Additional Information: Executive office of Health and Human Services