Effective May 1, 2025, members eligible for Family Assistance who have a qualifying hospitalization and require nursing facility level of care may be eligible to receive the same level of benefits as MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth through the Family Assistance Long Term Services and Supports Pathway (FA LTSS Pathway). As of this date, the only way for Family Assistance members will be able to access all community LTSS—including PCA, AFC, GAFC, day habilitation, ADH, and/or a long-term stay at a nursing facility or CDRH—is to apply and be found eligible for the FA LTSS Pathway.
MassHealth previously issued Eligibility Operations Memo 25-08 providing details on the FA LTSS Pathway. On June 24, 2025, MassHealth issued MassHealth issued NF Bulletin 193 Discharge and Transition Planning to Support Certain Family Assistance Members in Need of Long-Term Services and Supports which provides in more detail the operational process steps nursing facilities caring for Family Assistance members who need LTSS must follow to safely discharge. MassHealth published similar bulletins for participating acute inpatient hospitals, psychiatric inpatient hospitals, and chronic disease and rehabilitation hospitals. We encourage MSCA members to carefully review the NF Bulletin to ensure compliance with the current requirements. In addition, MSCA will be working with MassHealth to convene a webinar for members on the Family Assistance Pathway Bulletin.