As an attorney at Western Massachusetts Legal Services, I helped many clients appeal and prove their status as "permanently and totally disabled" in order to be determined eligible for MassHealth. Over the past year or so, I noticed that there was a significant drop in the number of people calling me about appealing their MassHealth disability determinations. While this could be a result of many different factors, I tend to think it is because people are found eligible for Commonwealth Care instead, and therefore do not appeal the disability determination for MassHealth.
The economic downturn shaped a lot of our discussion – how it affects clients, state services, and our own organizations. For example, more clients find themselves in tears during appointments – some with problems like home foreclosure that outreach workers just can’t help fix. Many HAN organizations are taking on additional responsibilities with fewer staff. CP has also cut back staffing; we are now closed on Wednesdays.
This online tool identifies organizations helping with MassHealth, Commonwealth Choice and Commonwealth Care enrollment.
