By: Jane Perkins
Executive Summary
In comments to the U.S. Department of of Health and Human Services (HHS), NHeLP urges it to reject Massachusetts’ Section 1115 waiver project because the state proposes changes to Medicaid that would undermine the purpose of the law and harm low-income people who need Medicaid for health care. Massachusetts seeks to waive requirements to shift costs to the federal government and reduce benefits and access to care for critical services without a clear experimental purpose. Additionally, number of the state’s proposals lack key details that make it impossible for the public to evaluate the state’s proposed changes, while others fall outside the legal scope of 1115 authority.
