This article highlights a buprenorphine dose-based prior authorization policy developed by MassHealth, the Massachusetts Medicaid program, in consultation with UMass Medical School. The policy may be a model for other states that are concerned about diversion of buprenorphine among individuals with opioid dependence.

This presentation describes Medicaid & CHIP requirements to report performance indicators, describes the marketplace federal reporting requirements, describes and analyze initial results from the reporting requirements, and reviews the future of federal reporting for Medicaid & CHIP.

Presentation of study that found women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) comprise fewer than 1% of deliveries in the United States, but they and their infants are at significantly elevated risk of adverse outcomes.

This article examines the impact of a 2-year stepwise initiative to reduce utilization and therapy costs of long-acting opioid analgesics by addressing issues of high dose, daily dose, and preferred therapeutic alternatives. The study demonstrated that a state Medicaid program initiative can result in a significant decrease in opioid class utilization specifically for the targeted, more costly agents.

A presentation exploring how health reform will impact access to interpreters for individuals with Limited English Proficiency and individuals who are deaf.

This report summarizes findings from the 2012 Massachusetts Health Reform Survey (MHRS) commissioned by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

This presentation provides an overview of the innovative approaches and lessons learned from the Massachusetts Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST) grant, a project managed by UMass Medical School for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. PHCAST defined core competencies for direct care workers, and developed a standardized training in those competencies.

Implementing the ACA's health insurance mandate will require states to reach, educate, and successfully enroll individuals and families who have had little experience with health coverage. As states prepare to enroll millions of low-income uninsured Americans, the experience of Community Health Workers in Massachusetts can inform efforts across the country.

The Disability, Health and Employment Policy Unit at UMass Medical School conducted an assessment of the health needs of people with disabilities on behalf of the Health and Disability Program (HDP), Office of Health Equity, Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The assessment was conducted to meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding requirements.

This article highlights the positive aspects of the Basic Health Program by discussing the opportunity, how the program works, and challenge to implementation in Connecticut. The pogram, an Affordable Care Act (ACA) option, gives states the opportunity to make health care more affordable to lower income people who do not qualify for Medicaid.