Commonwealth Conversations: Health and Human Services

White Cane Day and Disability Mentoring Day celebrate independence of individuals with disabilities

Help blind pedestrians while you drive

By MCB Commissioner Janet LaBreck

The white cane is a symbol of independence reflecting an individual who is blind’s ability to travel independently. Governor Deval L. Patrick has officially proclaimed October 15^th as White Cane Safety Day in the Commonwealth. In recognition of White Cane Safety Day, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) sponsored an awareness program on Tuesday, October 16^th at the Grand Staircase at the Massachusetts State House. I had the opportunity to attend, offer remarks, and participate in the program. I was joined by people who are blind, agency representatives, and numerous supporters to address the issues of pedestrian safety. One of the highlights of the day for me was hearing two kindergarten students talk about how their white cane allows them to be independent and do “fun” things.

Although we promote White Cane Safety year round, October 15^th allows us to raise everyone’s awareness about the critical issues that impact thousands of individuals who are blind when traveling to work, going to medical appointments, going shopping, and participating in various community activities across Massachusetts. We commend the Patrick-Murray Administration for proclaiming White Cane Safety Day as it also demonstrates the Commonwealth’s commitment to ensuring that motorist and pedestrians are aware of and complying with the motor vehicle safety laws.

With the assistance of the MCB, people of all ages, receive free comprehensive individualized Orientation and Mobility instruction. MCB delivers services that enable a person to obtain or maintain independence in their home, place of employment and in the community. To further help people who are blind live active and productive lives, Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90 Section 14A indicates that drivers must come to a complete stop when a blind pedestrian with a cane or guide dog is crossing or attempting to cross the street.

At the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, we also promote the following ‘Top 10’ list of things motorists should not do when seeing a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog at street crossings.

10. Don’t stop your car more than five feet from the crosswalk line. A visually-impaired person might think that there’s something between the crosswalk and your car if you stop so far back. The expectation for all pedestrians is that a car stops directly behind, or fairly close, to the crosswalk.

 9. Don’t yell out, “It’s ok to cross!” This may cause confusion to a pedestrian, particularly if another driver pulls out in front of your vehicle.

 8. Don’t get impatient when waiting for a visually-impaired pedestrian to cross.  If a pedestrian places a long cane into the street, it usually indicates he or she will begin a crossing.  If the cane traveler takes a step back & pulls back the cane from the curb, it usually indicates the person will not be crossing at that time. 

7. Don’t consider a ‘rolling’ stop as a complete stop.  A stop sign means STOP! 

6. Don’t turn right on red without coming to a full stop and looking for pedestrians.  The Right on Red Law requires drivers to come to a complete stop prior to making a right turn.

 5. Don’t fail to stop for pedestrians at all crosswalks whether or not there is a traffic signal or stop sign.  Come to a full and complete stop.

4. Don’t stop your car in the middle of the crosswalk.

3. Don’t pass another car that has stopped and waiting for pedestrians to cross the street.

2. Don’t wave to pedestrians who are using a white cane or guide dog to indicate that you are waiting for them to cross. They CAN NOT see you.

1. Don’t honk!

As we acknowledge White Cane Safety and promote awareness among motorists about driving when in the proximity of the visually-impaired, I invite you to visit the MCB website to find out more, or contact the Orientation & Mobility Department at the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind: 1-800-392-6450.

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Don’t Give Up, Be Persistent: Lessons from Disability Mentoring Day at City Hall

By Daniela Trammell, director of marketing at MRC

Last week the  Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), the City of Boston, and a number of local businesses assembled in Boston's City Hall to celebrate “Disability Mentoring Day.” This event affirmed the joint partnership between MRC and the City, both of which are deeply committed to providing mentoring  and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The event at City Hall honored the many accomplishments of 20 Boston area MRC consumers who completed summer-long internships and mentoring roles at City Hall.

The summer internships were made possible by the pledge of the Kristen McCosh, commissioner of the Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities for the City of Boston.

Commissioner McCosh emphasized to the group, “I was a former Mass Rehab client and they helped me with my van, schooling, and internships. MRC gave me the confidence to get back to work and they really changed my life. When I became Commissioner I really wanted to focus on employment for people with disabilities.” Commissioner McCosh has shown that abiding commitment throughout her tenure at City Hall and MRC’s Roxbury and Boston Vocational Rehabilitation offices were quick to seize upon the opportunity to both work with the City of Boston, and more importantly, provide quality work exposure and training opportunities for people with disabilities. 

Last week’s celebration was emceed by George Mitchell, a job placement specialist at MRC’s Roxbury office, and was an opportunity for  MRC  to recognize participants in the summer program as well match MRC consumers with the agency’s ’s employer partners regarding work opportunities within their companies.

Mr. Wilfredo Montes, a former MRC consumer, delivered a keynote address, stressing that MRC was a key resource when he was looking for work. “I have a disability and I have dealt with many challenges in my life,” Mr. Montes said. “ I continue to work on my challenges - but there is hope and help. One of my resources was MRC. I went on many job interviews. But I didn’t give up and you should not give up. Be persistent.”  After a year of working with MRC, and remaining proactive in his job search, Mr. Montes secured a full-time position as case manager at a local homeless shelter.

As part of the City Hall celebration, the MRC summer interns were paired with MRC business partners. A representative from each of the following companies met with the interns: Ace Employment Services, Bay Cove Human Services, City of Boston Credit Union, CVS Caremark, LaundroMax, Manpower Inc, Price Rite Supermarket and the University of Massachusetts at Boston. Following the breakout sessions, nine MRC interns were hired that afternoon by employers, delivering a total of seven MRC summer interns that have been hired into permanent positions.

Joan Phillips, assistant commissioner of MRC Vocational Rehabilitation division remarked, “MRC wants to educate employers that persons with disabilities represent an untapped and valuable employment resource. Today is a testament of the commitment of our employer partners and their willingness to not turn this into a PR event but to make real efforts to hire our consumers. This means a lot to me and to MRC.”

The celebration at City Hall concluded with Commissioner McCosh and the MRC Employment Specialist team handing out certificates of completion to MRC consumers that participated in the internship program this summer, with the collective pledge to continue the joint partnership and expand it to other city departments. MRC consumers, staff and City of Boston colleagues came away feeling both gratified and grateful for their experiences.

The following summer mentees and interns were honored at City Hall on October 11:

City of Boston - Summer Mentees

Carmelo Aguilar

Peter Anderson

Jacqueline Bagley

Ninetta Cottrell

Jonathan Bullock

Jordan Gilliard

Stephen Greig 

Don Klabin

Emmanuela Louis

Ami Okiwe

Stephen Spencer

 

City of Boston - Summer Interns

Hannah Brooks

Ralph Clarke

Richardo Haynes

Mahmud Jalloh

Christian Lizarbe

Angel Maldonado

Zachary Poldoian

Eric Robinson

Jim White

 

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September is Healthy Aging Month: Time to Stretch and Smile

By Executive Office of Elder Affairs Secretary Ann L. Hartstein

Two years ago, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs developed an “Aging Agenda,” underscoring the fact that aging begins at birth and is a lifelong process. Based on nine principles for improving the quality of life, the Aging Agenda recommends adopting healthy habits early in one’s life to guarantee a happier healthier later life. Lifelong healthy diets and exercise are obvious choices for promoting healthy aging.  As an agency, we practice what we preach.

Several staffers who incorporate exercise into their daily routines, and inspired by  Mass in Motion, developed a series of exercises, largely based on yoga, and invited their colleagues to join them every afternoon at 3:00 p.m., for fifteen minutes of stretching and balance-building, that they called “Stretch and Smile.”  The group is multi-generational, ranging in age from people in their twenties to their eighties, and led by a staff member in his early sixties and the agency Mass Wellness Champion who is in her early seventies. Some afternoons, only a handful of people find their way to EOEA’s back hallway to claim a spot. On other days, the stretchers and smilers fill the space.

Every session includes the same ten exercises, and participants report real gains in strength, suppleness and balance.  Repetition is the key to success in regular exercise.  Pain is not.  The Stretch and Smile leaders are scrupulous in promoting a routine that expands capacity without damaging muscles and cartilage.

In addition to their 3:00 p.m. exercise routine (3:00 p.m. was deemed to be the time at which most employees need a boost and exercise has far more lasting benefits than caffeine), the Stretch and Smile team share health and diet tips and occasionally add something new to their routine.  They invite passersby to join them, some of whom have become group members.

There are lots of ways to stay active and a number of community-based group exercise programs.  Check out your local Council on Aging – the list is available on the mass.gov/elders home page under Related Links.  Call your local Parks and Recreation Department to join or form a neighborhood walking club, including people of all ages who take regular walks in community parks or in and neighborhoods,  or, if you want to exercise at work, you’ll find more tips at your fingertips at:

The Administration on Aging website at: http://www.aoa.gov/AoAroot/Press_Room/News/2011/Healthy_Tip/36.aspx

Or the mass.gov website: http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/wellness/healthy-living/move-more/move-more-overview.html

 

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Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital opens today: New facility reflects new frontier for mental health

By DMH Commissioner Marcia Fowler

Today marks the official opening of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH). The new, state-of-the-art facility represents an evolution in modern public psychiatric care and treatment and reflects a remarkable collaboration among scores of stakeholders in the mental health community.

Since 2005, when the first meeting of the state’s Department of Mental Health Facility Feasibility Commission took place, the guiding principles for this historic project have always focused on recovery for individuals with serious mental illness and on Community First, the Patrick-Murray Administration’s principle of prioritizing a person’s reintegration into the community. DMH believes that true recovery from mental illness is not only possible, it is real.

I am so grateful to the hundreds of individuals, agencies and organizations who, for the past seven years, have dedicated their energy, expertise and hard work to creating the Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, and the hope we know it will bring to many individuals and their families.

WRCH is designed to foster dignity and respect for all who come through its doors; the building’s design and features themselves guide the recovery journey for adults and adolescents who need continuing care. WRCH will lead the nation, and possibly the world, in how clinical treatment and the recovery model can restore purpose and independence to persons whose lives have been interrupted by serious mental illness.

A crowning achievement of this magnitude could not be possible without the commitment, faith and compassion of many. To name them all would fill volumes, but I attempt here to acknowledge these remarkable folks who have made their mark on this extraordinary facility.

Under the leadership of Governor Patrick, Lt. Governor Murray and Executive Office of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, the creation of WRCH will ensure that citizens with serious mental illness are treated with dignity and respect and provided access to the best care and treatment in the nation. All of the thought and development that has gone into WRCH has unceasingly kept a keen eye toward recovery for all of individuals seeking care.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the members and staff of the Department of Mental Health Feasibility Commission and the Massachusetts Legislature who have shown unwavering leadership and support for citizens with serious mental illness.  I also want to thank former DMH Commissioner Barbara Leadholm, who, during her tenure led the Department and our stakeholders, community, consumers and families in their deep commitment to recovery, the principle of Community First and an innovative, state-of-the-art psychiatric hospital for Massachusetts.

The success of this project would not have been possible without the partnership of the Division of Capital Asset Management; Ellenszweig Associates; and Gilbane Inc., who for the past five years have worked collaboratively and closely with DMH and our stakeholders to conceptualize, design and build a public psychiatric hospital that sets the state for reforming mental health care and treatment nationwide.

I especially want to extend my deepest appreciation to the many DMH staff, who over the past five years, have spent countless hours working on developing WRCH and informing a hospital design that keeps recovery as its focus and is infused in every aspect of the building and grounds. Thank you for your tremendous contribution to WRCH and to the Department.

It takes a village to raise a child, and today’s opening reflects the entire community it took to build Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital. Without the many contributions of creativity, compassion and innovation of so many, we would not have the facility we are so proud to open today. On behalf of all citizens of the Commonwealth, I extend my gratitude to all who made it possible.

 

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On the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a resolve to continue championing all rights of all individuals with disabilities

By MRC Commissioner Charles Carr

As we approach 22nd Anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this Thursday, now is an ideal opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made.

 The ADA, a broad civil rights law for people with disabilities, was enacted in 1990 and is the most comprehensive civil rights legislation passed since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

 On July 26, 1990, when President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law, he said, “let the shameful wall of discrimination come down today,” and life for people with disabilities slowly began to change.

Much like the discrimination that people of color and women experienced in this country, people with disabilities faced blatant discrimination.  These practices would continue unless American society deemed it illegal to do so. The Civil Rights Act and Title IX provided protections for people of color and women, respectively, and that experience helped teach people with disabilities how to organize and push for over a decade to achieve the passage of the ADA.

As each of the Act’s titles began being implemented throughout the country, lawsuits were filed under the new legislation alleging employment discrimination and lack of access to public accommodations including public transportation. This new body of case law became fertile ground to support many more challenges which eventually led to the historic Olmstead decision in the Supreme Court.

The 1999 Olmstead decision was based on an ADA lawsuit against the state of Georgia on behalf of two women with intellectual disabilities who lived in a state institution but wanted to live independently in the community. The suit claimed that the ADA requires that the state must provide opportunities for people with disabilities to live in the “least restrictive environment."  It said that people with disabilities have protection under the law to make the decision to live in the community rather than institutions.. L.C. vs. Olmstead made its way all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. The Olmstead decision was a significant advancement for people with disabilities.

Today, as a society, we are richer and significantly more diverse as a result of the inclusion of people with disabilities into the social mainstream. Prior to the ADA It was the rule rather than the exception for people with disabilities to live their lives in institutions away from their families and friends. Although there are still many lingering instances of people living in institutions, that trend has been significantly reversed.

Before the passage of the ADA, the vast majority of public places and services like restaurants, theaters, municipal buildings, hotels and public transportation were totally inaccessible to people who use wheelchairs or have other mobility-related disabilities. Today, this too has dramatically changed.  People with disabilities can expect to take accessible public transportation to a baseball game and go out for dinner afterwards without being confronted with physical barriers. People who are deaf and hard of hearing are no longer excluded from basic telecommunications including the Internet.

These are a few examples of why the ADA was necessary and how the quality of life for people with disabilities has been significantly enriched over the past two decades. As with any law, however, we must be vigilant about its enforcement. This takes hard work and organization. I am grateful to the thousands of disability organizations and individuals around the country who are dedicated to safeguarding and advancing community inclusion as afforded by the law.

However, one aspect of the ADA remains largely unaddressed. Although Title I of the ADA guarantees protection against discrimination in employment and guarantees access to “reasonable accommodations” (such as a sign language interpreter or physical modifications to a work environment) once you are on the job, employment remains the unfulfilled promise of the ADA. 

People with disabilities are the largest and poorest minority in the country. This is largely due to a substantially higher unemployment rate for people with disabilities -- 30% versus the national rate of 8% in the general public. Recently, Sen. Tom Harkin, one of the original authors of the ADA, released a report that reflects this troubling fact and calls for sweeping changes in the public and private sectors. Undoubtedly, this will serve as a motivating force for people with disabilities, employers, lawmakers and others. Perhaps this will serve as the blueprint to tackle the problem of poverty and unemployment for people with disabilities in this country.

So as we celebrate our many accomplishments within the disability community over the past 22 years, let's not forget how much work there is left to be done. Let us continue to fulfill a promise made on this date exactly 22 years ago; that all people with disabilities will have equal access to all social and economic aspects of the American Dream. 

 

 

Recognizing veterans and their service this Independence Day: 4th Annual MASS Veterans tour kicks off

 

By DVS Secretary Coleman Nee

Independence Day gives all of us an opportunity to remember, serve, and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice by serving this nation. On July 4, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray will launch the Patrick-Murray administration's 4^th Annual Massachusetts Awareness for Support and Services (MASS) Veterans Tour. Lieutenant Governor Murray will join U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus for festivities aboard the USS WASP, currently docked in the Boston Harbor.  After the Fourth of July and War of 1812 Bicentennial commemoration events throughout the day, Lieutenant Governor Murray will continue the nine- day tour in local communities across Massachusetts.

The 4^th Annual MASS Veterans Tour is a tremendous opportunity for the administration to promote services offered by municipal, state and federal governments as well as the private and non-profit organizations that are resources for veterans and their families.  Among the range of services to highlight, Lieutenant Governor Murray will promote new initiatives launched within the last year, including the work of the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force to protect the jobs and mission at the Commonwealth’s six military bases.

I am very proud to join Lt. Governor Murray this Independence Day for the kick-off of the Mass Veterans Tour, and the many events to follow. Massachusetts provides the most comprehensive and innovative benefits and services for veterans and their families, and the continued support of the Patrick-Murray administration ensures the Commonwealth will remain a national leader. This tour brings attention to the issues facing our returning veterans while highlighting the extensive programs and services available to assist our veterans and their families. 

For the complete list of events that are part of the MASS Veterans Tour, visit: http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2012702-lt-governor-launches-veterans-day-tour.html

 

One year later, tornado response team remains strong

 By DTA Commissioner Dan Curley

When a tornado watch was announced for Western Massachusetts earlier this week, thousands of residents of the Commonwealth and hundreds of employees at the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) held their breath.  Memories of the June 1, 2011 tornados and storms are still fresh in the minds of everyone who experienced the destruction and are part of the ongoing recovery.

Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby personally congratulated 25 DTA staff members who received the Manuel Carballo Award for their work in the tornado recovery efforts.  These Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (DSNAP) Key Contributors, who work in DTA offices in Springfield, Southbridge, Holyoke, Worcester, and Boston, are representative of their nearly 500 DTA staff who also worked to provide food assistance to more than 20,000 households affected by the tornados. 

I was not at DTA last June, but I have heard many stories about the long, hot days my colleagues spent in our offices, and in tents, to bring whatever comfort they could to residents who lost everything.  They worked day and night – some foregoing their vacations, and all sacrificing sleep and time with their family and friends – to coordinate and manage an unprecedented event for the Department.  Their compassion, dedication, and teamwork reflect the essence of DTA’s mission to assist low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, increase their incomes, and improve their quality of life.

With disaster recovery plans well-tested and proven following the June 2011 tornados, many of these DSNAP team members leapt into action again following Hurricane Irene last August and the snowstorm in late October 2011.  Some of our employees came to work after those storms, despite the fact that their own homes lost power and needed repair. 

While I’m sure we all hope for peaceful weather throughout 2012, I am confident that the DTA team is prepared for anything Mother Nature sends our way. 

Congratulations to:

Alexandra Chesler

Ana Muller

Carmen Rosa

Claudette Champagne

Cynthia Sullivan

Diane Niemiro

Eliezer Torres

Igdalia Morales

John Shirley

Julie Noble

Kevin Mullen

Lilian Romero

Melissa Pietraszkiewicz

Michael Longley

Nancy King

Nathan Skrocki

Pat Boyd

Patricia Tyck

Peter Sasso

Roxanne Smith-Miller

Steve Judge

Surma Figueroa

Tina Cookish

Tina Sarty

Yasmin Otero

 …and to everyone at DTA who participated in administering DSNAP.  I am proud to stand beside you. 

MassVetsAdvisor.org launches Memorial Day weekend: Services and support for veterans just a click away with new web portal

By U.S. Army Reservist Kyle Toto

I joined the U.S. Army Reserves because I wanted to give back to my country and to carry on a tradition that had been in my family for three generations. After being in the reserves for three years, my civil affairs company was mobilized for a year-long deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan. It wasn’t easy to leave my family and friends, as well as my commitments to work and grad school, but I felt that it would be worth it. After a long year in Afghanistan and countless times outside the wire, I was thrilled to go home and reconnect with family. When I got back I was focused on catching up with friends and enjoying all the comforts of home. My benefits were the last thing on my mind.

That’s why I’m proud this Memorial Day to help the Patrick-Murray Administration’s Department of Veterans’ Services, Massachusetts Broadband Institute and the Home Base Program launch a new website to help veterans and their family members access over 200 state and federal benefits in one location.

MassVetsAdvisor.org is the perfect resource for veterans to easily access their benefits from the comfort of their own homes, on their own time.

As the new Community Manager for Broadband Adoption, I’ll be working with veterans and Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) across the Commonwealth to help them utilize the website and connect to all of the benefits and services they have earned.

MassVetsAdvisor.org is just one more way that the Patrick-Murray Administration has continued to make Massachusetts the the nation's leader in providing services and outreach for our state’s veterans.

If you are a veteran or a family member of a veteran please check out www.massvetsadvisor.org

If you are a service provider and would like training on the new veterans portal, feel free to contact me via email at toto@masstech.org, by telephone at (508) 870-0312 x 604, or through the mail at: Massachusetts Broadband Institute, ATTN: MassVetsAdvisor, 75 North Drive, Westborough, MA 01581.

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MassHealth begins paying incentives to providers who adopt and use Electronic Health Records (EHRs)

By MassHealth Health IT Project Manager Deborah Schiel

Recently, I was referred to a specialist by my primary care physician. Prior to the appointment, the new physician requested my medical records so he could review my health history. It seemed easy enough. Since my physician had an electronic health record (EHR) system I thought I could simply sign the paperwork that would allow him to share my medical information with the new provider and it would be transferred electronically in a timely way.

Although Massachusetts has more providers using EHRs than most other states, many providers still use paper medical records or if they do have electronic medical records, these systems are not set up to “talk to each other.” In my particular case, the two electronic medical record systems did not “communicate” with each other, transfer of my medical information meant that my primary care provider had to print out a copy of my medical record; I had to stop by his practice to pick it up and then drop it off at the specialist’s office a couple of days prior to my appointment. Can you imagine having to take these same steps to transfer money from one bank account to another bank account? Shouldn’t the transfer of health care information be handled electronically much like the banking industry?

Last October, Massachusetts reached a health care milestone with the launch of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment Program, working toward the Commonwealth’s goal of ensuring that every provider in the state has access to a federally certified EHR system that communicates with other certified EHR systems by 2015. During the first four months of the program, more than $76 million in Medicaid EHR incentives have been disbursed to over 40 short-term acute care hospitals and nearly 1,700 eligible health care professionals.  Both the Medicaid program and the Medicare EHR Provider Incentive Payment Program were established through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide 100% of the incentives paid to providers and 90% of the state’s costs to operate the program. In August 2011, CMS announced that MassHealth would receive more than $12 Million in federal reimbursement to support operations and provider outreach activities for the first two years of the Medicaid incentive program. MassHealth estimates that more than 6,000 eligible professionals and most of the acute care hospitals in Massachusetts will be eligible for the program, which means potentially more than $500 million in federal EHR incentives being paid to Massachusetts providers during the 10-year program. 

MassHealth is partnering with its colleagues at the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI), a division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, which will support key operational and provider outreach components of the incentive program.  MeHI is the state agency dedicated to  health care innovation, technology and competitiveness.  Another crucial participant is the Provider Compliance Unit of The University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Health Care Financing. They will be reviewing providers to make sure they meet all necessary requirements for receiving the incentive payments, and they will also audit the providers after the incentive payments are made.

Launching the Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment Program is just one of many exciting health information technology (HIT) initiatives that MassHealth,  Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), other state agencies and key stakeholders (including MeHI) are collaborating on to promote the widespread adoption and meaningful use of certified EHRs by providers across the Commonwealth. Widespread use of EHRs by Massachusetts health care providers is essential to transforming health care in the Commonwealth, and the move away from a fee-for-service model towards a system that offers fully integrated, coordinated, and patient-focused health care services. 

For more information on the Program, providers can contact the Massachusetts Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment Program staff at 1-855-massEHR or submit questions to massEHR@masstech.org.  In addition, providers can receive information on the Program at www.mass.gov/masshealth/ehrincentives.

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Department of Transitional Assistance receives special recognition from the Obama Administration for its tornado response

By Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth and Families Marilyn Chase

Following the unusual tornadoes that touched down last June in Central and Western Massachusetts, the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) quickly responded to ensure assistance for affected residents. The DTA team exhibited tremendous fortitude, putting in long hours and collaborating with employees of multiple state agencies to deliver support to residents in need. For DTA’s hard work and efficiency, this week the Obama Administration recognized the Department for its achievement delivering disaster SNAP benefits (DSNAP).to residents of the Central and Western regions.

Acknowledging the national recognition of DTA, Governor Patrick said: "I'm proud of the Department of Transitional Assistance for its dedication to helping the residents of the Commonwealth who were devastated by last summer’s tornadoes. Massachusetts leads the nation in ensuring that vulnerable families and individuals have access to the services they need, and this recognition is a testament to the Department’s effectiveness.

DTA’s special recognition came from a recent review by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which looked at swift responses to disaster across the country. USDA noted DTA’s outstanding administration of DSNAP, noting that it was "impressed by the level of coordination and sophisticated systems that were developed in a matter of days to prepare for this operation, as well as the degree of customer service given to disaster victims seeking food assistance.”

DTA’s mission is to assist low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, increase their incomes and improve their quality of life. I’m very proud of the agency for staying committed to this mission, even during an emergency situation, and alleviated some of the strain on displaced families in the Central and Western parts of the state. This is a well-deserved honor.

Read the full press release here.