A maximum number of ADULTS in the Family Assistance and CommonHealth programs has been established. A waiting list will be started once these caps are reached.

• DMA has issued draft regulations on enrollment caps... DMA had intended to have caps in place for the Family Assistance program by August 11th with emergency regulations. Now implementation is planned for on or after October 15th, 2003 through the regular regulation adoption procedures. There will be no public hearing on this.
• For capped programs, DMA will continue taking applications and will put applicants on waiting lists. Children will not count toward the base number allowed on the program.
• Family Assistance Insurance Partnership cap = 4,750 [members]
• CommonHealth = 11,850
• Individuals who are terminated and who appeal the termination decision can be re-enrolled through the appeal process without falling to the back of the waiting list.
• If an individual falls off a capped program because he/she fails to return verification on an asset test, or fails to pay a premium, then the individual loses coverage and falls to the back of the waiting list.
• MassHealth members now only have 30 days to return their paperwork for redetermination, as opposed to 60 days. If an individual doesn't receive/pay attention to the redetermination notice, or doesn't return paperwork within 30 days, and he/she is in a program that is capped, then the individual loses coverage and falls to the back of the waiting list.
• For the above situations, there is now a 30 day grace period for members to return their paperwork before they lose coverage and fall to the back of the waiting list.

Advocacy Note:     According the "MassHealth Defense" coalition in an e-mail dated 9/29/03 (emphasis added): The Joint Committee on Health Care will hear testimony on … Wednesday, Oct. 1st, … [on] Transferability between accounts. This bill, filed by DMA, would grant DMA the unlimited authority to transfer money among Medicaid line items. We believe that this bill, if passed, would rob the legislature of their prerogative to establish spending priorities. We are particularly concerned because the legislature provided enough funding to provide coverage to all those who qualify under the HIV waiver and the CommonHealth Program for the disabled. However, DMA is capping eligibility in that program so that they can transfer money saved into a different line item.