Healthcare
Quality, accessible healthcare services for our community are essential. Health disparities exist across the range of diagnoses and across the lifespan. The Arc is working to help shape policy as well as provide training for healthcare professionals in Massachusetts to enhance care for people with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This section provides information on MassHealth. It provides important and current information on the changes for members related to the implementation of Accountable Care Organizations. Also included in this section are resources for clinical care and insurance for autism as well as other state programs.
Please click on a resource link below for more information.
MassHealth (Massachusetts’ Medicaid Program)
In Massachusetts, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined into one program called MassHealth. MassHealth members may be able to get doctors visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, and many other important services. |
https://www.mass.gov/topics/masshealthFind information and links for MassHealth members. |
https://www.mass.gov/masshealth-serviceThe Massachusetts Health Connector offers health and dental coverage from the state’s leading insurers — and provides tools that make it easier to find out what cost savings you and your family may be eligible for. |
http://caringhealth.org/navigators.html
Medicare
Information goes here?
An Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism (ARICA)
ARICA (An Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Autism), is a law passed in 2010, requiring private health insurers in Massachusetts to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The legislation affects only certain types of health care policies, so coverage under ARICA depends on the type of policy you have. |
https://massairc.org/information-about-the-massachusetts-insurance-law/arica-faq/
Finding Providers (Clinics By Specialty)
The Lurie Center is a multidisciplinary program designed to evaluate and treat children, adolescents and adults with a wide variety of conditions including autism and autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome and developmental delays. It is the clinical arm of the Lurie Center for Autism, which also has research, advocacy and training programs. |
https://www.massgeneral.org/children/services/treatmentprograms.aspx?id=1614Floating Hospital for Children is the full-service pediatric hospital of Tufts Medical Center, an internationally respected academic medical center. We are proud to be the principal pediatric teaching and research institution for Tufts University School of Medicine. A major academic medical institution with innovative programs in clinical care, research, education and health care delivery, Floating Hospital offers a full range of inpatient and outpatient services in every area of pediatric specialization for infants through adolescence. |
https://www.floatinghospital.orgThe Mass General Hospital Down Syndrome Program integrates state-of-the-art resources with compassionate, comprehensive care through a multi-disciplinary approach. National experts from Massachusetts General Hospital, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary are ready to help your family member with any medical issue that may occur. |
https://www.massgeneral.org/children/services/treatmentprograms.aspx?id=1701An estimated 5,000 individuals with Down syndrome live in Massachusetts. Of those, approximately 25 percent reside in Central and Western Massachusetts. With the growing number of patients with Down syndrome in our region, families are faced with the challenge of finding coordinated, specialized services and medical care close to home. There is no longer a need to travel far for excellent medical care for your child/adolescent. With the help of the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center now offers The Down Syndrome Program, a dedicated multidisciplinary center for infants, children and adolescents with Down syndrome. |
https://www.umassmemorialhealthcare.org/umass-memorial-medical-center/services-treatments/childrens-medical-center/z-list-pediatric-services/down-syndrome-programThe Down Syndrome Program was founded in 1967, and is housed in the Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. The program is one of the oldest and largest of its kind, offering multidisciplinary health care for people with Down syndrome from birth until they reach age 22. With each appointment, we are also able to make referrals and connections with any of the other specialty clinics at Boston Children’s. The Down Syndrome Program is more than a clinic, however. We strive to provide resources, advocacy, and supports to all families, depending on their individual needs. |
http://www.childrenshospital.org/centers-and-services/programs/a-_-e/down-syndrome-programWe provide comprehensive, family-centered diagnostic and care services for children with autism spectrum disorder, together with strong family support. Depending on your child’s needs, we can coordinate visits with autism specialists such as developmental behavioral pediatricians, child neurologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, geneticists and gastroenterologists, as well as physical, occupational, and speech and language therapists. If you already have a health care provider you like, we can provide any medical services you need to fill in the gaps. |
http://www.childrenshospital.org/Centers-and-Services/Programs/A-_-E/autism-spectrum-center-program
