Public Health in Massachusetts

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates

The following updates highlight certain steps taken by Massachusetts officials to respond to COVID-19. The updates are not exhaustive and the policy landscape is evolving rapidly. For more information, please review specific department websites.

• On March 10th, Governor Baker declared a state of emergency to respond to COVID-19. 
• The Department of Public Health has issued guidance. 
• The  Division of Insurance has issued guidance outlining expectations regarding appropriate coverage of testing and treatment for COVID-19. Included among the expectations are that carriers: 
  • forgo cost-sharing for various COVID-19-related services;
  • promote tele-health options;
  • relax prior authorization requirements so that members can get medically necessary care if they are at risk of contracting the coronavirus; and
  • relax out-of-network requirements when access to urgent testing or treatment is unavailable from in-network providers.
• The Health Insurance Connector Authority has created a temporary special enrollment period (beginning March 11 and ending on April 25) for currently uninsured Massachusetts residents to purchase health insurance.
• MassHealth has released guidance for providers and managed care entities. The guidance includes various measures to support access to services including:  
  • guidance for managed care entities that aligns with the Division of Insurance bulletin above;
  • expanded coverage, through Hospital-Determined Presumptive Eligibility, for individuals with a diagnosis or presumptive diagnosis of COVID-19; and 
  • effective March 14, MassHealth is allowing early refills and 90-day supplies of prescription medications. 
• On March 15, Governor Baker issued an order regarding telehealth, which includes the following statement:  “To protect the Public’s health and to mitigate exposure to and the spread of COVID-19, the Group Insurance Commission (“GIC”), all Commercial Health Insurers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc, and Health Maintenance Organizations (Carriers) regulated by the Division of Insurance (“Division”), are herby required to allow all in-network providers to deliver clinically appropriate, medically necessary covered services to members via telehealth.”  
• The MA Department of Insurance issued a bulletin following up on the Governor’s order, requiring health insurance carriers to permit all in-network providers to deliver covered services via telehealth for the duration of the Emergency Order.  
• MassHealth will protect coverage for all individuals who have Medicaid coverage as of March 18, 2020 and for all individuals approved for coverage during the COVID-19 outbreak national emergency and for one month after the emergency period ends. Coverage will only end if an individual requests termination of eligibility or if they are no longer a resident of the state. Members will not lose coverage or have a decrease in benefits for any other reason. Additional helpful information is available in this FAQ published by MassHealth.
• The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute is maintaining a table summarizing key COVID-19 related changes affecting applicants and members in MassHealth, Health Safety Net, and the Health Connector. 
•  

Supreme Court Lifts Injunction, Permits New Public Charge Rules to Take Effect

As of January 27, 2020, the United States Supreme Court lifted the injunction on new public charge regulations.

Importantly, the regulation does not apply to most immigrants. We recommend visiting protectingimmigrantfamilies.org for more information.