Massachusetts officials plan to cut $60 million from a program that pays for healthcare for the uninsured and underinsured, partially by changing eligibility standards, according to a report on MassLive.com.
Here are eight things to know about the issue.
1. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) and his administration plan to cut money from the Health Safety Net, a state government-run program that reimburses hospitals and community health centers for care they provide to low-income people who are uninsured or underinsured, according to the report. In fiscal year 2015, Health Safety Net paid $403 million to cover healthcare for 274,000 people, according to the report.
2. In FY 2017, officials want to halt the state's contribution for Health Safety Net, according to the report.
3. Officials also plan to limit eligibility for Health Safety Net. According to the report, Gov. Baker's administration wants to cut income eligibility from 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($47,080 for an individual) to 300 percent ($35,310 for an individual).
4. Additionally, the governor's administration wants to cut the level at which an individual does not owe a deductible, according to the report. The level would go from 200 percent of the federal poverty level ($23,544 for an individual) to 150 percent ($17,664 for an individual). So anyone who earns between 150 percent and 200 percent of the poverty level would owe an annual deductible of $516 (for an individual) before a hospital could be reimbursed, according to the report.
5. The new rules proposed by state officials would also change the time period for reimbursement. An individual who receives medical care would have 10 days to apply for reimbursement instead of the current six-month window.
6. Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said the changes aim to create consistency between plans offered through MassHealth, the state's Medicaid program, and Health Connector, the state's insurance exchange, according to the report. She also noted that nearly all — 97 percent — of residents are insured, and 170,000 people using Health Safety Net are eligible for insurance.
7. However, advocates for the poor have expressed concern that changes to program eligibility will force more people into debt when they cannot pay for their care, according to the report.
8. The changes are slated to take effect April 1, although some lawmakers are trying to delay them.
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