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MGH Community News |
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MGH Community News |
| March 2022 | Volume 26 • Issue 3 |
Highlights
Sections Social Service staff may direct resource questions to the Community Resource Center, Hannah Perry, 617-726-8182. Questions, comments about the newsletter? Contact Ellen Forman, 617-726-5807.
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Pandemic Housing Programs Including Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) Ending The Baker Administration has announced the upcoming application closure for the state’s federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) programs: Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), the Subsidized Housing Emergency Rental Assistance (SHERA) program, and the ERAP-Enhanced HomeBASE program. Based on the remaining balance of available federal ERA funds, these programs will stop accepting new applications on or around April 15, 2022. Applications submitted on or before April 15 will be processed and considered for the federal programs until all ERA funds are awarded. Applications submitted after April 15 will be considered for the state-funded Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program, subject to funding availability. Other existing eviction prevention programs, including the Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP), housing counseling, legal aid and mediation services, will continue to be available for eligible households. In addition, the Homeowner Assistance Fund, the City of Boston’s Rental Relief Fund, and other locally-funded rental assistance programs remain open. In February, Governor Baker filed an FY22 supplemental budget including funding to continue the RAFT program, as well as a proposed extension of the Ch. 257 eviction protections until January 1, 2023, which require a continuance or stay in eviction cases if a tenant has an active rental assistance application. The RAFT budget proposal includes a 264 percent increase in RAFT compared to the FY22 budget. This funding represents a four-fold funding increase over pre-pandemic levels and a projected three-fold increase in households served. The proposal also maintains the current maximum RAFT benefit level of up to $7,000 a year per household, which would enable DHCD to serve roughly 15,000 households in FY23. Prior to the pandemic, the RAFT program was a homelessness prevention program with an annual budget of approximately $20 million, which served 5,000 to 6,000 households and provided up to $4,000 a year to low-income households for rent, utilities, and other housing costs. We continue to closely monitor activity in the Legislature as the bill moves through the legislative process. Several of the Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) programs continue to be available to support low-income renters and landlords, including legal aid and mediation services. Earlier this year, DHCD awarded an additional $3.6 million to provide legal services to low-income renters and landlords through the end of 2022. DHCD is contracting with eight legal aid organizations with a focus on preventing evictions. Since the beginning of EDI, legal service organizations have assisted more than 4,500 cases, helping at least 11,000 residents. Funding in 2020 and 2021 also enabled legal aid organizations to recruit more than 100 staff and volunteers to provide expansive legal services for households facing eviction. Homeowners in need of financial assistance to avoid foreclosure or displacement may be eligible for the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) program if they have income at or below 150 percent AMI. Eligible homeowners include owner-occupants of two to four family properties who are behind on their mortgage payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone in need of housing help or advice can still reach out to Mass211, by calling 2-1-1, to get information about available resources and connect with a regional agency.
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Community Based Organization (CBO) Information Sessions To prepare for returning to the state-funded RAFT program after April 15, we will be hosting two training sessions on RAFT for community-based organizations on April 25 from 12PM – 1:15PM and April 26 from 1PM – 2:15PM. The 75-minute sessions will provide an overview of RAFT eligibility and policies, and include time for Q&A. Please sign up for a session by clicking the links below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar:
- Adapted from EDI Newsletter: February 2022, Eviction Diversion Information, DHCD, March 15, 2022 and the press release.
State's Emergency COVID Paid Sick Time Program Ends A temporary state program established during the pandemic to reimburse employers for workers' COVID-19-related time off ended as of March 15, 2022. State officials said the COVID-19 Temporary Emergency Paid Sick Leave Program, which was created to allow workers who contracted COVID or needed to care for someone else who had to take time off, ran out of allocated funding and ended March 15. Labor advocates, such as Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health director Jodi Sugerman-Brozan, say the pandemic is not yet over and are calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to extend the program. “What this means is many workers will choose to go to work sick instead because they have no choice but to put food on the table," she said. "And without paid time off, they're going to be going to work, whether or not they have symptoms — and in some cases, even if they test positive." Applications were on track to exceed the budgeted amount for the program by the end of February, triggering a two-week notice that it would soon end, according to a spokesperson for Baker. There's no pending legislation aimed at extending the program, though lawmakers did add an additional $25 million in funding back in February. Employers have until April 29 to file for reimbursements for qualifying leave taken between May 28, 2021 and March 15, 2022. - See the full WBUR story.
Roughly 500,000 essential workers in Massachusetts should expect to receive $500 payments in the mail over the next week, the Baker administration said Wednesday. State officials in early February had projected the first round of the COVID-19 Essential Pay Program would launch in late March, though they did not set a firm date. The payments are based on 2020 Massachusetts tax returns, with residents qualifying if their income was at least $12,750 and below 300% of the federal poverty level. Checks will be mailed automatically, with no application or other action necessary from residents, according to the eligibility parameters. The payments are not based on specific industries or businesses. The maximum income threshold for other family sizes entails: $51,720 for a household of two; $65,160 for a household of three; $78,600 for a household of four; $92,040 for a family of five; $105,480 for a household of six; $118,920 for a household of seven; and $132,360 for a household of eight, according to the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. Residents who already received unemployment benefits in 2020 are not eligible for the $500 checks, funded through federal COVID relief dollars. Baker administration officials have yet to divulge eligibility criteria for the remaining $210 million that is allocated to further support essential workers. Those subsequent payments will be based on 2021 tax returns, officials said Wednesday. Massachusetts residents can call 866-750-9803 for questions about their eligibility in the program’s first round. The hotline is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - See the full MassLive article.
Roughly 80,000 people who evacuated from Afghanistan last summer, including nearly 2,000 now in Massachusetts, will get the opportunity to apply for temporary protected status, allowing them to remain legally in the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced this month. On March 16, the Department of Homeland Security announced the designation of Afghanistan for temporary protected status for 18 months. Only individuals who were residing in the United States as of March 15, 2022, will be eligible. “This TPS designation will help to protect Afghan nationals who have already been living in the United States from returning to unsafe conditions,” said agency secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. “Under this designation, TPS will also provide additional protections and assurances to trusted partners and vulnerable Afghans who supported the U.S. military, diplomatic, and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan over the last 20 years.” About 1,900 Afghan evacuees settled in Massachusetts over the past six months with the help of local resettlement agencies, and more are coming from overseas where they are temporarily. They fled the rise of the Taliban after President Joe Biden withdrew U.S. troops in August. “I think this is, of course, a step in the right direction. It's a positive thing,” said Jeff Thielman, president of the International Institute of New England, which has resettled 407 Afghan evacuees around the state. “Our clients will in all likelihood, apply for both asylum and temporary protected status.” Those who have arrived so far came through humanitarian parole, which the federal government offered as an option to avoid the many years it takes for refugees to be vetted for U.S. arrival. That allowed two years of legal status, and then parolees must apply for another kind of visa or legal status before it ends. That means applying for a visa through an employer, family, or try to apply for asylum — or, now, temporary protected status. They can apply for asylum and TPS at the same time. TPS is a legal status that can apply to people from countries facing armed conflict if returning would pose a serious threat to their personal safety. The Immigration and Nationality Act, a longtime piece of federal law, gives the Department of Homeland Security the power to extend TPS to citizens from countries facing war, natural and humanitarian disasters. It lasts for two years and can be extended by the federal government, which has happened for Haitians and other nationalities many times. There’s also an effort among immigration advocates to get Afghan evacuees permanent resident green cards, through the Afghan Adjustment Act. Advocates are concerned that the short-term solution of designating TPS for Afghan evacuees will dissipate their efforts to secure a more permanent solution. Temporary protected status is exactly that: temporary, and doesn’t lead to a green card. “I think it's a step in the right direction, but I'm concerned that the government is telling us our leaders are telling us that the Afghan Adjustment Act isn't going to happen, and that is a disappointment,” Thielman said. “I think the best thing for the state is for these folks to have a permanent status in the country,” he continued. “So we know they're going to be here, they're going to settle in, they're going to work, they're going to build lives and careers and community here in New England.” - See the full GBH News story.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Individuals who fall under TPS will be considered Immigrant Lawfully Present (ILP) for MassHealth eligibility. Individuals who have filed an application for TPS, and who have been granted employment authorization will also be considered ILP for MassHealth. Individuals eligible for TPS under this designation must have continuously resided in the United States since March 1, 2022. Individuals who attempt to travel to the United States after March 1, 2022 will not be eligible for TPS. Applicants or members who are unable to provide documentation to prove TPS status and/or those who entered the country after March 1, 2022, may qualify as a PRUCOL. Please review all immigration documents carefully. For example, proof of a filed application at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (such as an I-797 notice of action) for asylum or some other immigration status will satisfy PRUCOL requirements. See the accompanying story on TPS for Afghan evacuees for more information about TPS. Learn more: https://www.masshealthmtf.org/news/temporary-protected-status-designation-ukraine-immigrants - From Temporary Protected Status Designation for Ukraine Immigrants, Massachusetts Health Care Training Forum, March 7, 2022.
(The original email on which this article is based was also shared to the MGH Outreach and Resource Navigation distribution list by Kelly Flannery.) The Boston-based National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) has contacted Eversource and National Grid (but not the other, smaller companies) for details about their payment plan arrangements now that they are no longer operating under COVID-related orders and voluntary policies regarding the length of payment plans. Eversource says that for the moment, they are still offering 12 month payment plans, but they may reconsider that in the future. It is possible to negotiate an even longer payment plan, and it is also possible a particular customer service rep might try to convince the customer to agree to a shorter plan. National Grid is no longer offering the 12 month payment plans that were available during COVID. For customers who are still connected/active accounts, they can get a 10 month payment plan with 15% of the overdue amount paid up front; or an 18 month payment plan if 25% of the overdue amount is paid. For customers whose service has been terminated, they can get restored on a 6 month payment plan with 50% down. Again, it is possible the customer might be able to negotiate a longer payment plan/lower down payment, or might be urged by a customer service rep to pay more up front/agree to a shorter payment plan. Feel free to share your experiences in negotiating payment plans; NCLC welcomes advocates’ feedback. - From UPDATE on payment plans at Eversource and National Grid, MA Utility Network Listserv, Charles Harak, National Consumer Law Center, March 21, 2022.
New Hampshire Homeowner Assistance Fund – Now Accepting Applications A new, federally funded program will provide relief to eligible homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage, property taxes, utility bills, and other costs related to the coronavirus pandemic, New Hampshire authorities announced this month. The New Hampshire Homeowner Assistance Fund will offer assistance for delinquent mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner insurance and condominium fees, and utility payments. The total maximum benefits per property is $20,000. Applications are being accepted and payments to providers are expected to begin later this month. Eligible homeowners must:
The program will offer three types of assistance:
*Maximum total assistance per property is $20,000 Program details: NH Homeowner Assistance Fund Fact Sheet To receive information and updates about the NH Homeowner Assistance Fund, click here to sign up. For assistance with application, financial counseling, and other resources, contact: IF YOU ARE A RENTER OR LANDLORD: The federal NH Emergency Rental Assistance program provides assistance to renters and landlords impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. General Information
For more information see the NH HAF website. Americans can order more free at-home COVID-19 tests from the U.S. government at COVIDtests.gov to be shipped to their homes, the White House said this month. Each household can order a total of eight tests. So if you ordered four in January, when the program launched, you're eligible to order a second batch of four more. President Biden announced the move in his State of the Union addressThe White House subsequently released a video telling people the website was ready to go again. "Get your free tests today," Biden said, urging people to have them on hand "so we're prepared no matter what COVID-19 brings." More than half of U.S. households ordered tests in January and February. "The way that we set this up was to make sure that every household who wanted these tests could get them before we made a second round available," White House testing coordinator Tom Inglesby told NPR. Orders should move faster this timeIn January, some tests didn't ship within the seven- to 12-day window that had been promised because the administration was waiting for manufacturers to make more tests. This time, test scarcity is not a problem. "As we open up this second round, we are going to be shipping immediately," Inglesby said. "We have a fairly substantial stock of new tests ready to be shipped, so we expect orders to be delivered quickly." The idea is to have them on hand for when you need themThe idea is that these tests can be used if someone develops symptoms, has a close exposure to someone with COVID-19 or wants to spend time indoors with someone who would be at high risk if they were to catch the coronavirus. But Inglesby said there's another reason the federal government is purchasing all these tests: "to keep the testing infrastructure strong." The government wants to keep the testing industry viableThe last time COVID-19 case numbers ebbed — in the spring and early summer of 2021 — the nascent home-testing industry saw demand dry up, and production slowed. But then when case numbers increased with the delta and omicron waves, there weren't nearly enough tests to meet demand. Now, the Biden administration plans to add at-home coronavirus tests into the national strategic stockpile so they can be sent out rapidly in case of a future surge. - See the full WBUR story.
Fisher House – Free Lodging for Military Families During Hospitalization The Fisher House of Boston provides free temporary housing to veterans and military families receiving medical care in Boston. Eligibility
Lodging For short stays (roughly 10 days or less), families will be hosted at the Wyndham adjacent to Mass General. For longer stays, families will be hosted at Residence Inn Boston Harbor on Tudor Wharf, all at no cost to the family.Length of stay is based on family need; there is no pre-determined limit.More Information and to ReferMore information: www.fisherhouseboston.org To refer, please call Jennifer DeLuca, Executive Director, at 508-728-8781 Fisher House has been added to our accommodations list. Note that there is also a Fisher House home on the grounds of the West Roxbury, VA. Military/veteran families being treated there, or who are seeking that type of environment may apply. Fisher House West Roxbury contact: elizabeth.stpierre@va.gov. Reminder: Additional Programs on our Accommodations Page MGH Social Service Department staff: reminder that there are a couple of programs that want our staff to be aware of and able to access their lodging programs, but do not want to be listed on our public accommodations list. Having trouble finding appropriate lodging? See our Accommodations PAGE on the Staff Access area of our website. Programs listed there but not on our list include ROFEH international and Room in the City.
Team Aid is a non-profit organization run by a group of nationwide volunteers. Their purpose is to provide emergency (non-medical) assistance to people traveling or living abroad that face unexpected life altering situations such as accidents, sudden deaths, or severe illnesses. After an emergency individuals can reach out to Team Aid to be connected to a volunteer. Volunteers work to be the main point of contact for those affected by the emergency. Assistance can vary based on the situation; examples of help provided are:
Team Aid evaluates each situation individually. Individuals looking for assistance can submit a form at: https://teamaid.org/needhelp or call a coordinator at (844) 611-8326. Case Examples A middle-aged person was hit and run by an unidentified vehicle in January 2021. After struggling for his life for 10 months, he died on 10/23/2021. TEAM Aid is transporting his mortal remains to his family in Hyderabad for the funeral. A 68-year-old visiting parent from Jaipur, Rajasthan, India died of a massive heart attack. His family could not find a funeral home that can offer funeral services until the next several days. But TEAM aid made it possible within 36 hours. See the flyer - Thanks to Lynn Mazur for sharing this information and Hannah Perry for submitting this article.
MassHealth Struggling with Autism Services In Massachusetts, families supported by MassHealth are experiencing prolonged wait times to access services for children with autism. The state is currently undertaking a process to adjust reimbursement rates paid for autism services for children and this is an opportunity to leverage expanded access to services for children and provide them with the care they need. The CDC estimates that 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In Massachusetts, the estimated number of children with autism is 16,000. Families face waitlists to see diagnosticians and waitlists to begin therapeutic services. Organizations working to meet the demand for services are experiencing rising costs with no reimbursement adjustments. This results in challenges to recruit and retain qualified professionals to render treatment. In the absence of appropriate adjustment to meet the rising costs for providers, families in need are faced with diminishing quality in services and access to needed care. Therapy based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) is well-established as an effective approach to increase the quality of life for individuals with autism. Applied behavior analytic interventions include a long list of empirically supported strategies that increase adaptive behavior and decrease harmful and dangerous behaviors. For instance, ABA therapy can increase effective communication skills for children who are unable to speak. ABA therapy is individualized to meet the needs of each child and their family. Research suggests that children with autism make the biggest gains when ABA therapy is started early and is intensive. There have been zero increases to the rate of reimbursement since July of 2016 and yet costs have climbed nearly 20 percent in the passing years. - See the full CommonWealth Magazine opinion piece.
My Ombudsman Now Serves All MassHealth Members As you may be aware, the Disability Policy Consortium's (DCP) My Ombudsman program is an independent resource that helps people enrolled in MassHealth resolve issues with their care plans and providers and get access to the services and treatments they need. This is the only such program in the country that is run by and for people with disabilities, and since 2013 the program has helped thousands of people with disabilities access the care they need to live healthy and independent lives. Previously, My Ombudsman could only serve individuals enrolled in managed care plans. This month MassHealth officially announced that DPC’s My Ombudsman program would be expanding to cover Fee For Service enrollees, the only member population previously not covered. This means that, as of right now, every MassHealth member can now get support from My Ombudsman. We actually soft-launched this service at the beginning of January, and we've already been seeing great results working with Fee For Service members. We're very excited that MassHealth has opted to expand the program, and grateful for their support for this critical work. Note that members with any eligibility or enrollment related concerns should instead contact MassHealth Customer Service or a MassHealth Enrollment Center. Whether online at myombudsman.org, by phone at 855-781-9898, by videophone 339-224-6831, or by email at info@myombudsman.org, we hope that if you're a MassHealth member, you'll reach out whenever you need help, and will encourage your friends and families to do the same. Excerpts from the MassHealth Announcement/FAQs What is the My Ombudsman program? What does My Ombudsman do?
Note that members with any eligibility or enrollment related concerns should instead contact MassHealth Customer Service or a MassHealth Enrollment Center. How to contact My Ombudsman
For more information about My Ombudsman
- DPC Update: An Exciting Announcement about our My Ombudsman Program, Disability Policy Consortium Weekly Update, March 15, 2022.
MassHealth PT-1 services currently are “curb-to-curb”. This will continue to be the standard, but effective April 1, MassHealth PT-1 Transportation will have a Door to Door “Enhanced” service option. Door to door transportation services, may be provided with or without attendant/escort (not supplied by the transportation provider) via sedan or wheelchair van. Accommodations are enhanced to account for the needs of an individual to be safely transported to/from origin, and destination. These services can be scheduled through the brokerage using their preferred or contracted transportation provider upon confirmation of an approved PT-1 (PT-1 number generated upon eligibility verification through the CWP). ed note: subsequent MassHealth communication added the following clarifications:
Wheelchair Vans Will Now Require a PT-1 MassHealth is changing wheelchair van transportation from fee-for-service (FFS) transportation by transportation providers who have contracted directly with MassHealth to brokered transportation through Human Service Transportation (HST) Office selective contracts with transportation brokers (currently MART and GATRA). This change is effective April 1, 2022. Effective April 1, 2022, providers will need to submit a PT-1 request for transportation through the online Customer Web Portal (CWP) for all wheelchair van transportation. Sedan service will continue to require a PT-1; this is not changing.
For a listing of brokers by town, please see www.mass.gov/doc/find-your-hst-broker/download. MART’s HST webpage is available at www.mrta.us/masshealth/about , and GATRA’s HST webpage is available at www.gatra.org/masshealth-hst/ for additional resources and broker-led webinar details. Hospital Discharge PT-1 Also effective April 1, 2022, for MassHealth members to receive wheelchair van transportation as part of safe discharge planning, providers will be required to submit a PT-1 request, that will be approved based on member eligibility, via the Customer Web Portal (CWP) before contacting a transportation provider to render the trip. The PT-1 will replace the current Medical Necessity Form. This special Discharge PT-1 will be valid for a single ride home from an inpatient facility and is valid for 14 days after authorization. Hospital Discharge PT-1 requests were designed to approve or deny instantly depending on the member’s eligibility (MassHealth coverage type). Ambulance Transportation will NOT be Affected. Emergency and nonemergency ambulance services will remain FFS (non-brokered), and no change will occur to the current process and record keeping requirements. Ambulance providers will continue to verify eligibility on the date of service. They must also continue to maintain all appropriate records including but not limited to the Medical Necessity Form (MNF). - For more information see All Provider Bulletin 339 and the MHA Q&A. ed note: term "room to room" has been changed to "door to door" to better reflect current MassHealth terminology. NEW MassHealth FAQ. On Friday evening 2/25, a technical update was made to the online application at MAhealthconnector.org. This update impacts Reasonable Compatibility rules. “Reasonable Compatibility” is a term for a set of rules to determine when the self-attested income (the amount the applicant reports on the application) and the electronic data match amounts are ‘close enough’ (within a specific range) to be considered verified. Currently, for MassHealth’s purposes, an individual’s income is considered to be reasonably compatible when:
For Health Connector purposes, currently, an applicant’s income is considered verified if it is no more than 10% lower than data sources, or if the attested income is higher than the data sources. Beginning on March 1, 2022, for the unwinding of the Public Health Emergency, MassHealth and the Health Connector will apply an increased threshold when checking if an applicant’s self-attests income is verified by data sources. The reasonable compatibility rules will increase to 20%, and if the consumers income is within that threshold, the Health Connector and MassHealth will accept the applicant’s self-attested income and consider it verified. This means that applicants are less likely to be sent an RFI (Request for Information) asking for proof of income, to receive a pre-populated MassHealth renewal, or to experience eligibility changes. - From: System Update Impacting MassHealth and Health Connector Reasonable Compatibility Rules, Massachusetts Health Care Training Forum, March 1, 2022.
Massachusetts Families Facing Benefits Cliff as Free School Lunch Programs End With food insecurity rates remaining higher than pre-pandemic levels – and Congress voting not to extend the Universal Free School Meals program – advocates are urging Massachusetts legislators to extend the program statewide. The federal program enacted during the pandemic allowed all students, regardless of familial financial status and city of residence, to get free breakfast and lunch in school. The program will end on June 30, reverting to the previous protocol of requiring applications for free school lunch, despite the U.S. Department of Agriculture finding that need remains high nationwide. Families are “facing a perfect storm” on food insecurity with the end of federal programs, said Jennifer Lemmerman, Vice President of Public Policy at Project Bread. “Time is of the essence.” Rates of food insecurity have improved since their worst levels amid the pandemic, with the help of federal programs, but families continue to struggle to recover to where it was prior to the pandemic. “We know food insecurity was an issue before the pandemic, but it reached unprecedented levels,” said Erin McAleer, President and CEO of Project Bread. “It remains higher today than it was in February 2020.” Project Bread data estimated the end of the program will mean the loss of access to an estimated five million meals for children will be lost. School meals were the top source of free food in the state during the pandemic, and many communities in Massachusetts will lose access to them throughout the summer and into the next academic year. Advocates from Project Bread want to see the program become permanent. Some states have already enacted similar legislation that will extend universal free school meals indefinitely, including California and Maine. Other federal programs utilized during the pandemic will also be ending, likely within the next few months, such as increased access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits. Currently, all adults on SNAP have had the maximum allowance. “That has been huge”, said McAleer. But this benefit is only allowable while the Public Health Emergency Declaration is in place. When that is lifted, SNAP benefits will go back to relying upon the calculations used prior to the pandemic, based on income and household size. The bill needs to be passed before the June 30 expiration date, or students across the state will lose access to vouchers for summer meals. - See the full SouthCoastToday article.
Facing breakdowns and Slow Repairs, Mass. Wheelchair Users Call for Stronger State Law Wheelchairs fail frequently. Researchers estimate that, in a typical six-month period, more than half of wheelchairs break down. And getting them repaired can take a month or longer, leaving wheelchair users stuck at home or in bed, and at an increased risk of medical complications. “And there's no AAA for wheelchairs, so any repairs are like getting stranded,” says Aurorah Arndt who is a wheelchair user. In addition to long repair wait times, she learned that warranties often limit where wheelchair owners can get repairs. This can mean no bike shops or auto mechanics are allowed, even for a flat tire. Yet, she discovered, there are only a small number of companies in Massachusetts that sell and fix wheelchairs. “Massachusetts law is definitely behind most of the country,” said attorney Sam Shepard, who worked as a fellow for the Disability Law Center and the National Consumer Law Center. He compared Massachusetts’ wheelchair warranty law with that of every other state in the U.S. “What I found was pretty unsettling,” he said. Shepard uncovered quite a few differences between the commonwealth and other states. For example, 16 states require a back-up chair be provided while major repairs are underway. Massachusetts does not. Another example: Rhode Island and Connecticut require that wheelchair warranties last at least two years. In Massachusetts, the requirement is half that. Warranties can help protect consumers from hefty bills or shoddy products. They also mean less paperwork so repairs can happen faster. “Simply by adopting provisions that other states have already adopted, we could do a lot better,” Shepard said. He’s part of a team of wheelchair users and disability advocates pushing for a bill in Massachusetts to provide stronger consumer protections for wheelchair users. The bill is currently working its way through the state legislature. But three major trade associations that represent wheelchair manufacturers and providers have come out against the bill, saying it doesn’t provide workable solutions. Sixteen organizations who regularly work with wheelchair users responded with their own letter questioning the strength of the trade associations’ arguments and pointing out that some of their objections were to elements already present in existing Massachusetts law, as well as wheelchair warranty laws in other states. Fixing Wheelchairs May Take Federal And Grassroots Action Whatever happens at the State House, disability advocates and people from the wheelchair industry agree that state-level legislation won’t solve the entire problem. That’s led some to envision grassroots changes, while others hope for national reforms. Murshid Buwembo has long dreamt of a mobile wheelchair repair van that you can call for help akin to roadside assistance from AAA. If a quick fix or replacement chair aren’t possible, the service could provide, at least, a ride home. He envisions a van staffed by people with disabilities who can simultaneously help other people with disabilities keep their jobs. Mark Schmeler, with the University of Pittsburgh Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology, believes that the payment model for wheelchair repairs is a major problem. Right now, wheelchair providers and manufacturers are paid upfront, sometimes as much as $30,000 for a complex wheelchair. But they often lose money on repairs, according to Schmeler’s research. He has proposed a monthly payment system that would task the companies with regularly maintaining and repairing the chairs. Under such a system, he argued, fewer breakdowns would mean more profit, providing a financial incentive for better-functioning chairs. - See the full WBUR story.
Boston Office Has Second Lowest Asylum Grant Rate in the Country The Boston asylum office for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services granted applications at rate less than half the national average, according to a new report. The report by the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine found that the Boston office had the second lowest grant rate across the country, with 15% approvals between 2015 and 2020, almost half that of the national average. New York, with a 11% grant rate over that same time period, was at the bottom of the list. It’s an alarming rate as countries around the world face violent upheaval and natural disasters, including Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and now, Ukraine. There are around 20,400 immigrants with pending cases before the Boston office, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s New England chapter. “The result of this disproportionately low grant rate is that people fleeing persecution in their home countries are wrongly denied asylum and the protections afforded to them by international and U.S. law,’’ the report said. “Asylum seekers may ultimately have to wait years for their cases to be resolved. During this time, they are separated from their family members abroad who often remain in danger.” The study, titled “Lives in Limbo,” found the Boston office is “dominated by a culture of suspicion and distrust toward asylum seekers,” bias, and “compassion fatigue.” It calls for an investigation by the Government Accountability Office. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials weren’t available for immediate comment over the report. “The attorneys further indicate that [asylum officers] sometimes become frustrated and even combative with applicants” read the report, adding that this “violates the requirement that asylum interviews be conducted in a non-adversarial manner.” Researchers said officers in Boston hone in on specific inconsistencies to expedite denial, or refer the case to immigration court. Some of those inconsistencies are derived from language or cultural barriers. Report authors said there’s implicit bias, with English-speaking asylum seekers nearly twice as likely to be granted asylum through the Boston office as compared to non-English speakers. Another issue, they say, is memory loss from trauma, and the fallibility of human memory over the many years it takes to get interviewed. The ACLU of Maine sued the federal government for the public records used in the report. They conducted 102 interviews with asylees and asylum seekers, attorneys, and former office employees from other regions. They eventually won the records and a database with asylum information, and approached Meghann Boyle, the head of the Boston asylum office, over their findings in February. She gave two reasons for the grant disparities, the report said. Boyle told them that the COVID-19 pandemic “restricted the office’s ability to conduct substantive interviews, so the office focused heavily on cases that could be decided without interviews.” And, she said, the office saw an increase of filings from applicants ineligible for asylum who are using the process to avoid deportation through an immigration court referral. The ACLU called her explanations “insufficient,” noting that the pandemic impacted asylum offices nationwide and couldn’t just impact the low approval ratings at one. They said individuals seeking deportation relief apply to asylum offices around the country and there’s no data the Boston office received a disproportionate number of those applications. - See the full WGBH story.
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