Pennsylvania Health Law Project Offering Free Trainings and Webinar on HealthChoices New East Zone Expansion

Forwarded by the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania –

Friends –

As you may already know, the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) has decided to change how Medical Assistance (MA) operates in North Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania.  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.

DPW’s decision to require almost all MA recipients to join a physical health managed care plan is a major change for consumers, especially for consumers who have no prior experience with managed care, who require a lot of health care services, or who are vulnerable and medically fragile.

We at the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) are concerned that this change may make it difficult for individuals to access their doctors and get the health services they need.  Through community education we hope to reduce the potential for major disruption for the low income residents who live in these 22 counties.

Therefore, this December, the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP) will offer two free in-person trainings and a webinar on the HealthChoices New East Zone expansion.  We hope to educate advocates, providers, consumers, and others who work with the MA population on how this new system will work, how to help individuals choose the best health plan, and how to help individuals get their needs met in this delivery system.

For information about the trainings, click here for a Word version and click here for a pdf version.  Please note that space is limited, so please RSVP for the trainings.

Please share this information with anyone you feel would benefit from these trainings.

Thank you very much!

Elena
Elena Satten-Lopez
Communications Fellow
Pennsylvania Health Law Project (PHLP)
Helping People in Need Get the Healthcare They Deserve
esattenlopez@phlp.org
Phone:  215.625.3990, ext. 107