Stavros
Advocates for Independent Living
Hot Issues
Stavros wants you to be informed and active in the issues that are important to you. As people with disabilities, we need to pay attention to what's going on in our communities, state and nation AND make sure we are heard. Things can only change if our elected officials--local, state or national -- know how you feel! Find out all you need to know to be informed to Vote Smart and start changing the world!
Trouble with Masshealth eligibilty reviews?
We have become aware of an enormous backlog at the MassHealth office responsible for processing Eligibility Review forms (known as an ERV). It seems that it can take 10 to 12 weeks to process, so even if the ERV was sent in before the due date, some people are getting termination notices. So as a public service, we are making the ERV available to you here; just click on the .pdf link below. Please do not use this ERV unless it is an emergency!
MassHealth Eligibility Review Form
Contact Your Legislators!
Your call or letter to your elected legislators really does make a difference! Find your state legislators here and Federal legislators here here (or here (for just Massachusetts legislators).
Draft proposal for Dual Eligibles
Mass Health Denials and Appeals
Don't forget that you have the right to appeal any Mass Health decision you don't agree with. Starting in March 2009, many consumers saw big cuts in the hours approved for their PCA services. These are folks who need personal care attendants to help them survive. Stavros has seen most of the consumers who appealed large cuts to their PCA program win their appeals and regain the services they need to survive. Generally the back of all Mass Health letters have an appeals form on the back; just fill it out and send it in. If you need more help to file an appeal, please visit MassLegal help for details on how to file an appeal.
Let's keep the jobs we have! Medicaid works for Massachusetts!
We all know that lots of Federal legislators are talking about cuts to Medicaid (known as MassHealth here). But lots of jobs would be lost even from a small funding cut? According to a Families USA June 2011 report, a 5% cut in federal Medicaid funding would mean the loss of 7,600 MA jobs! A 33% cut would mean 50,180 jobs lost.
Click on link below for more Medicaid facts, and let your legislators know that they must oppose Medicaid cuts! Cuts also mean that many more people with disabilities would end up trapped in nursing homes because home and community based Medicaid services are optional but the state is mandated to pay for nursing homes.
Health Care Accessibility - Share Your Story!
Are you a person with a disability who has trouble accessing health care due to inaccessible equipment and architectural barriers or received poor care because of your disability? If so, we want to hear from you! If you are a person with a disability who is interested in being interviewed about barriers you have encountered at hospitals and their outpatient locations, please contact the DPC at 617-542-3522. All interviews are confidential and no information will be shared without the interviewee's permission.
Action Alerts
One of the best ways to keep informed is to join a listserve. Sign up for three of the best: "Steve Gold's Nuggets" deals with national disability issues and policy trends; the Disability Policy Consortium's (DPC) "First Advocate" action alert list which focuses on state activities. Or sign up for Families USA, a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans. In addition, we will do our best to keep you updated right here.
What to do if things go wrong in the Hospital.
A website that offers guidance for what to do AFTER something goes wrong with a health care experience in a MA hospital. While information is available on what to do to prepare for a surgery or a visit with a specialist, scant guidance is online regarding what to do when something has gone wrong, e.g., a hospital acquired infection, a wrong site surgery, or your concerns ignored -- concerns that turned out to have been signs of a serious decline in health status. You may have someone in your life that would benefit. Click HERE for more information.
