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Senior Care Options/PACE notice

SECTION 87.   Subsection (e) of section 9D of chapter 118E of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (3) the following paragraph:-

(3A) The division shall provide to each beneficiary age 65 and over an annual notice of options available for enrollment in voluntary programs including Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly plans, MassHealth Senior Care Options, Frail Elder Home and Community Based Waiver Program and any other voluntary elected benefit to which the beneficiary is entitled to supplement or replace such beneficiary's MassHealth benefits. Upon approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the division shall include in such annual notice the names and contact information for the program providers, general contact information for the division and a general description of the benefits of joining particular programs. The notice shall be written in clear and simple language and shall include instructions for requesting a copy of such notice in a language other than English. The notice shall include a method for the beneficiary to request from the division additional information on any program described in the notice. Before the content and format of the annual notice is finalized, the division shall forward the proposed draft for review and comment to the program providers. The division shall work with the program providers and other appropriate stakeholders to assess whether, and to what extent, barriers to program enrollment shall be alleviated through modifications to the program or the enrollment process. The division may charge the program providers for the costs associated with provision of the annual notice.
 

Veto Explanation:
I am vetoing this section because it imposes additional costs on the MassHealth program without a corresponding appropriation. I am prepared, however, to recommend the necessary appropriation and then to approve such a requirement.