The Pennsylvania Health Law Project will be offering free training on changes in the operation of the Medical Assistance (MA) program being enacted by the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania.

On March 1, 2013, DPW will transition away from ACCESS Plus and will instead require almost all MA recipients to join a physical health managed care plan.

This will create a HealthChoices New East Zone and will impact individuals who live in Bradford, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montour, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties. ACCESS PLUS will no longer operate in these counties after March 1.

Everyone who has ACCESS PLUS needs to join a Managed Care Plan by February 7, 2013. If an ACCESS PLUS recipient does not pick a plan by this date, they will be auto-enrolled into one. Additionally, any consumers enrolled in United HealthCare Community Plan will need to choose a new plan by February 7th, since that plan will not be serving the New East Zone.

This is an important change for Medicaid recipients in these counties, impacting how they access health care services and providers. Consumers, family members and professionals need to know:

• How coverage will change after March 1, 2013;
• Managed Care Plan choices available;
• What to think about before choosing a plan; and
• What to do if a plan isn’t meeting someone’s needs.

The Pennsylvania Health Law Project is offereing FREE in-person training about these changes at the following locations:

• Tuesday, December 11, 2012 - Lewisburg
  10:00 am- 12:00 pm
  Union County Library
  255 Reitz Blvd.
  Lewisburg, PA 17837
   
• Tuesday, December 18, 2012 - Brodheadsville
  9:30 am- 11:30 am
  Fellowship Hall
  Zion United Lutheran Church
  1919 Route 209
  Brodheadsville, PA 18322

If you are unable to attend one of these training sessions, the Pennsylvania Health Law Project will also be offfering a FREE Webinar Training on Friday, December 14, 2012 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Space is Limited. Please RSVP for an in-person training or the webinar training through PHLP’s Helpline (1-800-274-3258) or by email to staff@phlp.org. You may also register online for the webinar training.

New East Zone HealthChoices Expansion Training Flyer