PHLP News
2013 News
Pennsylvania Outreach and Enrollment Conference
Enroll America and PHLP co-hosted a Pennsylvania Outreach and Enrollment Conference on March 21, 2013 in Philadelphia. Attendees heard from national and PA-experts on the policy and implementation issues affecting health insurance coverage. The agenda and materials from the presenters can be found here.
Event sponsors included AmeriHealth Mercy, the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council, the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania Independence Blue Cross, Independence Foundation ,PATHS, United Healthcare and UPMC for You. Event supporters included Community Behavioral Health, the Health Federation of Philadelphia, Maternity Care Coalition, National Nursing Centers Consortium, Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers, Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, and Public Health Management Corporation.
PHLP is planning a second meeting on these topics in July of 2013. Please let us know if you wish to be included in that event.
Attention: Free Training Session on Non-Traditional Independent Living
On April 25, 2013, from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM in Eagleville, PA, PHLP Senior Attorney David Gates will lead a training on how persons with a disability can live in their own apartment, house, or co-op with the individual supports they need. For more information and to RSVP for the training click here.
New PHLP Publication on MATP
April 2, 2013, PHLP released a new publication titled “Understanding the Medical Assistance Transportation Program”. The Medical Assistance Transportation Program (“MATP”) is available to any Medical Assistance consumer who needs help with non-emergency transportation to and from health care services or treatments. The fact sheet reviews how consumers can apply to and utilize this program.
Attention: Free Workshop on Medical Assistance, Waivers, and Affordable Care Act
Throughout March and April 2013, PHLP Senior Attorney David Gates will lead a series of workshops on helping children and adolescents with disabilities get the health care they need. The workshop will focus on Medical Assistance and Waivers’ eligibility rules, how to apply to these programs, the services and supports provided, and the benefits of the Affordable Care Act.
To help providers, consumers, and advocates learn about public health insurance, PHLP and the Family to Family Health Information Project of the PEAL Center are offering five free in-person trainings across Pennsylvania. Please see our flyer for more details. Registration is required.
DPW Agrees to Continue to Pay Behavior Specialists for Children and Youth on the Autism Spectrum
DPW previously informed “wraparound” providers that starting May 26, 2013, behavioral specialist consultants (BSCs) will not be paid to consult on treatment services for children and youth with an autism spectrum diagnosis unless they are licensed as a behavior specialist under Act 62 (the Autism Insurance Law) . DPW is now going to allow BSCs to be paid even if they have not obtained licensure by May 26, provided they “are reasonably likely to qualify for a behavior specialist license [under Act 62] during the transition period.” The letter sent to families about this change can be found here. This policy change aims to avoid interruptions in service as many persons applying for behavior specialist licensure have experienced delays in getting the mandated training and obtaining licensure.
New Chart to Help You Determine Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility
PHLP released a pamphlet and accompanying graphic about Medicaid and CHIP eligibility requirements. The chart is not intended to be comprehensive, but is intended to help individuals and parents understand Medicaid and CHIP application paths. It is one of many publications available on our website that organizations can use and distribute to their own clients.
New PHLP Publication on Dual Eligibility in Pennsylvania
February 26, 2013, PHLP released a new publication titled “Dual Eligibility in Pennsylvania”. The guidebook reviews what happens when someone becomes a dual eligible and what, if any, actions they need to take.
New PHLP Publications Detail Benefits and Savings Created by Expanding Medicaid
Pennsylvania lawmakers have an unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of uninsured Pennsylvanians, with the federal government covering the full cost. PHLP released several analyses to inform the public and state policy makers about this decision.
- “Medicaid Expansion: A Benefit for Rural Pennsylvania”, co-authored with the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, describes the benefits for the nation’s third largest rural population. See accompanying news release.
- “Expanding Medicaid in PA: Consider the Savings” highlights how expanding Medicaid in 2014 to cover 600,000 uninsured adults will create $400 million per year in budget savings and new revenues. See accompanying news release.
- “Medicaid Expansion is Good for Families”, co-authored with Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, details how 131,000 uninsured parents and families will benefit from expanding Medicaid. See accompanying news release.
Together, these analyses emphasize how expanding Medicaid is the right decision, both for Pennsylvania’s budget and for Pennsylvania’s families and communities. We encourage readers to review each of these reports and to share them widely.
Attention: ACCESS Plus Providers, Consumers, and Advocates
The Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) is offering one additional free webinar on the HealthChoices New East Zone expansion. The webinar will occur on Friday, February 22, 2013 from 10am – 12pm.
On March 1, 2013, DPW will transition away from ACCESS Plus and will instead require almost all MA recipients to join a physical health managed care plan. This will create a HealthChoices New East Zone and will impact individuals who live in Bradford, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties.
To learn more about this upcoming change please register to attend PHLP’s informational webinar by email staff@phlp.org or online. Space is limited.
PHLP will offer additional in-person trainings over the coming months. We will notify you of these trainings as soon as they are scheduled.
Medicaid Expansion: A Benefit for Rural Pennsylvania
On January 24, 2013, the Pennsylvania Health Law Project and the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) co-released a state-specific analysis titled “Medicaid Expansion: A Benefit for Rural Pennsylvania“. The paper looks at the unique set of issues that rural Pennsylvanians face regarding health status and access to health care services.
Please read our news release to learn more about the paper.
Medicaid Expansion in Pennsylvania Is Good For Families
On January 17, 2013, the Pennsylvania Health Law Project and the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families co-released a state-specific analysis titled “Medicaid Expansion in Pennsylvania is Good for Families“. The paper highlights the impact of Medicaid expansion on parents and their families. In particular, it emphasizes how expanding Medicaid to cover more than 131,000 parents, the majority of whom are working and already have a child enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, helps create healthier parents and families.
Please read our news release to learn more about the paper.
Expanding Medicaid Generates Up to $400 Million in State Budget Savings
On January 10, 2013, the Pennsylvania Health Law Project released a state-specific analysis highlighting $400 million per year in fiscal savings if Pennsylvania lawmakers expand Medicaid to cover 600,000 uninsured adults.
The analysis “Expanding Medicaid in PA: Consider the Savings”, is the first in a series PHLP is producing to help the public and state policy makers understand the benefits of Medicaid expansion.
Please read our news release to learn more about the paper.
Attention: ACCESS Plus Providers, Consumers, and Advocates
On March 1st, 2013, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) will change how Medical Assistance (MA) operates in North Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Medical Assistance in these areas will transition a majority of MA recipients from ACCESS Plus to a physical health managed care plan to create a HealthChoices New East Zone.
To help providers, consumers and advocates prepare for this change, PHLP and the PEAL Center are offering two free in-person trainings (Friday, January 25th, 2013 from 10am to 12pm in Wilkes Barre and from 2pm to 4pm in Scranton) as well as a webinar (Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013 from 1pm to 3pm) on the HealthChoices New East Zone expansion. Please see our flyer for more details.
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