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.
A new pamphlet offers step-by-step guidance, just in time for taxes.
This short survey helps document MEC response times.
This online tool identifies organizations helping with MassHealth, Commonwealth Choice and Commonwealth Care enrollment.
MassHealth Advocacy Guide, revised in September 2006, is available.
