1. Mass Families Organizing for Change Annual Conference MassHealth Community Programs
Robin Y. Lee
Director of Day and Residential Programs, MassHealth
September 27, 2014

2. Overview
Adult Foster Care
Personal Care Attendant
Premium Assistance
Resources

3. The MassHealth Office of Long Term Services and Supports (OLTSS) is responsible for providing elders and individuals with disabilities of all ages with services and supports that best meet their needs; we do this by ensuring the availability of, and managing, a broad range of long term care services provided in a range of settings.
Our work supports the missions and goals of the Executive Offices of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) and Elder Affairs, and requires collaboration with numerous departments and agencies involved in the administration of disability programs.

4. Adult Day Health
Adult Foster Care
Chronic Disease and Rehabilitation Hospitals
Day Habilitation
Durable Medical Equipment/Oxygen & Respiratory
Early Intervention
Group Adult Foster Care
Home Health
Hospice
Independent Nursing
Nursing Facilities
Orthotics & Prosthetics
Personal Care Attendant
Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Senior Care Options
Targeted Case Management
Therapy

5. Definitions: Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Bathing Dressing
Toileting
Transferring
Ambulating
Eating

6. Definitions: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): Shopping
Managing finances
Preparing meals
Managing medications
Housework
Laundry
Using the telephone or other communication devices

7. Adult Foster Care (AFC)

8. AFC Program Description
AFC services are provided in a qualified home setting. Member lives with a qualified paid caregiver who is responsible for providing personal care with activities of ADLs, IADLs and other services as needed. Nursing oversight and care management are provided by the professional staff. Services are provided at two levels designed to provide care at varying levels of intensity.

9. How do you become an AFC Consumer?
A physician orders AFC services for an individual.
The individual contacts an AFC provider.
The AFC provider conducts intake and assessment services to:
assess your need for AFC services
inform you about the scope of AFC services
identify potential AFC caregiver and schedule a meeting.
The AFC provider submits a request to MassHealth for authorization of payment.

10. Who is eligible for the AFC program?
Must be MassHealth eligible (Standard or CommonHealth)
Must be 16 years of age or older.
Must have a physician approval for AFC services.
Requires daily physical assistance or cuing and supervision with at least one ADL task.

11. AFC Program Statistics
As of 7/1/14, there are 9,213 MassHealth individuals enrolled in the AFC program.
There are over 70 AFC providers providing services to these individuals.

12. Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

13. PCA Program Description
The PCA Program helps people with permanent or chronic disabilities.
PCAs provide hands-on assistance with ADLs. 
In addition PCAs can also help with IADLs to assist individuals maintain their independence, stay in the community and manage their own personal care. 

14. PCA Program Description (cont)
PCA Program is a consumer-directed program, whereby the consumer employs the PCA(s) and is fully responsible for recruiting, qualifying, hiring, and firing, if necessary, his/her PCA(s).
The consumer is also responsible for training and scheduling his/her PCA(s).
MassHealth contracts with Personal Care Management (PCM) Agencies and Fiscal Intermediaries to support Consumers in managing the PCA program.

15. How do you become a PCA Consumer?
To apply for PCA services, the individual must contact a PCM agency.
The PCM agency will evaluate your need for PCA services and submit a prior-authorization request to MassHealth for you.

16. How do you become a PCA Consumer?
The PCM agency services:
explain the rules and regulations and consumer responsibilities of the PCA Program
evaluate the consumer’s need for PCA services and submitting the consumer’s prior authorization request for PCA services to MassHealth
assess the consumer’s ability to manage the PCA Program independently
provide ongoing skills training to help consumers manage their PCA program successfully
assist the consumer in developing a written service agreement that describes the consumer’s role and responsibilities, as well as those of others involved in supporting the consumer’s use of the PCA Program (e.g. a surrogate).

17. Who is eligible for the PCA program?
Is MassHealth eligible (Standard or CommonHealth)
Has a permanent or chronic disability that prevents the member from  performing activities of daily living  without physical assistance from another person
Requires physical assistance with at least 2 or more ADLs 
Has a prescription from the member’s doctor for PCA services
Obtains prior authorization for PCA services from MassHealth.

18. Why PCA over another similar program, like HH?
The PCA Program is consumer-directed.
The consumer is the employer and hires the PCA(s), determines schedules, trains the PCA, defines job tasks, supervises and evaluates the PCA’s performance, and may fire the PCA.
In comparison, Home Health workers are employed by a Home Health Care agency and are supervised by a Registered Nurse. The MassHealth PCA Program provides for consumer control.

19. PCA Program Statistics
29,000 MassHealth individuals utilizing the PCA program.
Approximately 33,000 PCAs providing services to these MassHealth individuals.
27 PCM agencies (to provide assessment services and skills training for consumers)
4 Fiscal Intermediaries (to process payroll for the PCAs)
The PCA program is also offered through the Senior Care Options and One Care Managed Care programs.

20. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
MassHealth provides financial assistance to families who have a family member with eligible MassHealth coverage AND pay other health insurance premiums.
MassHealth offers five premium assistance programs:
MassHealth Standard
MassHealth CommonHealth
MassHealth CarePlus
MassHealth Family Assistance
MassHealth Small Business Employee

21. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
MassHealth Standard:
Comprehensive health insurance that includes long-term care.
For low-income Massachusetts residents who are eligible parents with children under 19 years of age; pregnant women, children up to 19 years of age; the elderly; the disabled and women needing treatment for breast cancer or cervical cancer.

22. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
MassHealth CommonHealth:
Coverage similar to MassHealth Standard.
For eligible disabled adults and disabled children through age 18 years who cannot get MassHealth Standard because their incomes are too high.

23. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
MassHealth CarePlus:
Coverage similar to MassHealth Standard.
For eligible adults between 21 and 64 years old whose income is at or below 133% of federal poverty guideline (FPL), and who do not quality for MassHealth Standard.
Provided through managed care organizations.

24. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
MassHealth Family Assistance:
Coverage includes most of the MassHealth Standard services.
For eligible children under 19 years of age and people with HIV who are not eligible for MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth.

25. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
MassHealth Small Business Employee:
For eligible individuals 19 and 64 years old
Do not qualify for MassHealth Standard, CommonHealth, CarePlus, or Family Assistance
Works for a small employer with 50 or fewer full-time employees
The employer offers health insurance

26. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
These programs have certain eligibility criteria and may have required member contributions.
Criteria:
The health insurance coverage meets the Basic Benefit Level as defined by MassHealth.
One or more family members must be eligible for one of the five MassHealth benefits.
The family member must be covered by your other health insurance.

27. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
Required Member Contribution:
MassHealth may require that a member contribute toward the cost of their health insurance coverage.
Member contribution depends on the type of MassHealth coverage the member has, and household income and size relative to federal poverty guidelines.

28. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
The following do NOT have a required member contribution:
MassHealth Standard
MassHealth CommonHealth members with household income at or below 150% of FPL.
MassHealth CarePlus
MassHealth Family Assistance members with household income at or below 150% of FPL.
MassHealth members who have verified that they are American Indians or Alaska Natives (with certain limitations).

29. MassHealth Premium Assistance Programs
Current range of estimated required member contribution (depends on % above FPL):
MassHealth CommonHealth:
For children <19 YO with income between 150% and 300% FPL:
$12 to $28 per child per month
For adults with >150% FPL and children > 300% FPL:
$15 to $928+ per month
MassHealth Family Assistance:
For children with income between 150% and 300% FPL:
For adults with HIV with income between 150% and 300% FPL:
$15 to $35 per month

30. Resources MassHealth: www.mass.gov/masshealth
MassHealth Customer Service:
MassHealth 2014 Income Standards and FPL:

31. Resources
OLTSS Contact Information:
Ken Smith, Director of OLTSS
Phone:
Robin Lee, Director of Day and Residential Programs
Phone:

32. Questions and Answers