Healthy PA Alert on Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities Program Elimination

Friends –

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare is proposing a plan, “Healthy PA”, that can be found here.  Healthy PA would cut services to people currently receiving Medicaid services so that private health insurance coverage can be provided to low-income people who are currently uninsured.

Pennsylvania’s Healthy PA application is now with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a review and federal input period.  Comments are due to CMS by April 11, 2014 at 6a.m.  Instructions on sending comments are included at the end of this alert.

Healthy PA would also eliminate the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD) program.  MAWD provides Medicaid health insurance for people with disabilities who do not meet the general resource and income requirements for Medicaid, typically because they are working.  MAWD provides vital services to recipients so they can maintain their health, remain in a community setting, and continue working.  The elimination of MAWD would impact around 34,000 Pennsylvanians, many of whom will be left without an affordable option for health care outside of the Medicaid system.

Lack of coverage would result in medical debt, worsening of medical conditions or institutionalization.

CMS needs to hear from you.  Pennsylvania should not be permitted to end the MAWD program through Healthy PA.  Comments are due by April 11, 2014 at 6:00a.m.  Every comment matters.

Comments on the “Healthy Pennsylvania Private Coverage Option Demonstration” can be submitted online or emailed to 1115DemoRequests@cms.hhs.gov.  Comments may also be mailed to:  Megan Stacy, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Mailstop:  S2-01-16, Baltimore, Maryland 21244.  Every comment matters.

Contact:  Kelly Whitcraft, DRN Policy Coordinator, at kwhitcraft@drnpa.org or 800-692-7443, extension 323.

Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh
1-800-692-7443
www.drnpa.org