Massachusetts Regulation 12125
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Medical Assistance
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Under the authority of M.G.L. c. 6A, section 16 and in accordance with M.G.L. c. 30A, the Division of Medical Assistance (the Division) will hold a remote public hearing on Friday, October 18, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. relative to the adoption of the following new regulation:
130 CMR 464.000: Program of Assertive Community Treatment Services
The proposed new regulation is planned to go into effect no sooner than February 1, 2025. There is no fiscal impact on cities and towns.
The proposed regulation establishes the requirements for Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) service providers to enroll as MassHealth providers and establishes PACT programs as a new fee-for-service provider type. The proposed regulation will:
• Establish PACT service providers as a provider type that may bill MassHealth through fee-for-service.
• Define MassHealth's fee-for-service program for PACT and other relevant terms.
• Establish the following payable services: intake, initial assessment and initial treatment planning, comprehensive assessment, Program of Assertive Community Treatment services, employment and vocational services, housing services and supports, pharmacotherapy, referral services including crisis intervention referrals, and discharge planning.
• Establish fee-for-service PACT program administration and programmatic requirements, including member and provider eligibility, nonpayable services, nonpayable circumstances, telehealth, staffing and supervision requirements, recordkeeping requirements, and maximum allowable fees.
To register to testify at the hearing and to get instructions on how to join the hearing online, go to www.mass.gov/info-details/masshealth-public-hearings. To join the hearing by phone, call (646) 558-8656 and enter meeting ID 935 397 8200# when prompted.
You may also submit written testimony instead of, or in addition to, live testimony. To submit written testimony, please email your testimony to masshealthpublicnotice@mass.gov as an attached Word or PDF document or as text within the body of the email with the name of the regulation in the subject line. All written testimony must include the sender's full name, mailing address, and organization or affiliation, if any. Individuals who are unable to submit testimony by email should mail written testimony to EOHHS, c/o D. Briggs, 100 Hancock Street, 6th Floor, Quincy, MA 02171. Written testimony will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2024. The Division specifically invites comments as to how the amendments may affect beneficiary access to care.
To review the current draft of the new regulation, go to www.mass.gov/info- details/masshealth-public-hearings or request a copy in writing from MassHealth Publications, 100 Hancock Street, 6th Floor, Quincy, MA 02171.
Special accommodation requests may be directed to the Disability Accommodations Ombudsman by email at ADAAccommodations@mass.gov or by phone at (617) 847- 3468 (TTY: (617) 847-3788 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled). Please allow two weeks to schedule sign language interpreters.
The Division may adopt a revised version of the proposed actions taking into account relevant comments and any other practical alternatives that come to its attention.
In case of inclement weather or other emergency, hearing cancellation announcements will be posted on the MassHealth website at www.mass.gov/info-details/masshealth-public-hearings.
September 27, 2024