The CommonHealth Subcommittee
Meeting Minutes:
September 12, 2007
Present for conference call:
Bill Henning
Bill Allen,
John Miller,
Andy Foreman,
Paula Callanan,
Linda Landry,
Jim Lyons.
Five Committee members were present at the teleconference meeting. Bill thanked Linda Landry (DLC) for participating. We began a productive discussion concerning a clear definition of the subcommittee purpose today, and goals. It was agreed that we will develop specific recommendations to make to the full NOW coalition at the meeting this October 19th in Cambridge.
We followed our recommendations that we developed from the last full Coalition meeting that the group focus on discussion about how family income is a factor in the premium that is paid.
Bill asked Linda to explain the CommonHealth Program to Committee members. She explained that MassHealth is a needs-based program, people sometimes forget this fact. The whole program considers Gross family income, and The Center For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS -the federal agency that oversees Medicare, and hence CommonHealth) approved it. Linda cannot think of a legal challenge. The Committee asked Linda what tweaking could be done. The program requires us to take employer offered health insurance. Linda helped us understand how the scale is determined. How does the hourly work requirement impact enrollees?
The rules have become very confusing. Linda suggested we get the state policy clarified. We should find out what wiggle room is there around the law (Andy)- We may be able to convince Medicaid to tighten up the rules.
Bill pointed out that Annette Shea of The Massachusetts Office of Medicaid oversees this program. Jim pointed out that he and Cindy Thomas described the above issues to Annette at a MICEO meeting at ICI in Boston two months ago, and Ms. Shea responded that her office was aware of the issue:
Bill asked the group to consider, what is realistically doable.
Linda suggested the state policy of requiring recipients to enroll in their employer’s health insurance could be addressed by us. The most serious problems tend to be encountered by those with higher incomes.
CMS oversees these programs and must oversee the waiver. So they allowed Massachusetts to expand the coverage as long as it is cost neutral to the State. John pointed out that up until 1998 CommonHealth premiums were $11 per month. At that time, until 1998 Commonhealth was fully funded by the state Linda: It was then folded into 50% U.S. Government reimbursed to The State.
All agreed to meet with Annette Shea, in November. BCIL, and NILP will invite their members who have excessive CH premiums to come to the meeting, and explain their personal stories to Annette Shea. Three people have written their experience to Bill.
Linda agreed to assist us with this. John pays close to $500.00 per month for CH premium. He wrote a letter 3 years ago. We will discuss the waiver issue with Ms. Shea and Bill suggested we speak with her, and look at all possibilities, then determine which areas we can change/improve first.
A BCIL member pays $6200 per year toward health insurance.
Bill Allen reported that The House just passed the supplemental budget that included the Workforce Council in it.
If you stop working, you get a one-time spend down. Bill also pointed out that these are big money issues to consumers, but not to the State.
Jim called Annette, left a voice mail offering 4 dates November 5, 6, 7, or 20. Annette called back, and set up the meeting for Wednesday, November 7, at 1:00 p.m at The BCIL office, 60 temple Place in Boston.