Grant Partners

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute’s (MLRI) health care work targets vulnerable populations who face unusual challenges in obtaining and maintaining health insurance coverage and care. MLRI will provide legal advocacy focused on policy and regulation issues in the Commonwealth in defense of low-income and vulnerable populations. One key issue is retaining coverage for those affected by redetermination through detailed critiques and analyses to identify standards and practices that are not in compliance with applicable law.

Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) will focus on improving community health outcomes and reducing the causes and consequences of chronic diseases. MPHA places a special focus on communities with disparities in rates of obesity and chronic disease, particularly among low-income children, families of color, and vulnerable individuals. It will focus its policy and advocacy efforts in the following areas: connecting community health and clinical care, healthy eating and active living, housing, and family stability. 

Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) will provide services to and seek full integration for individuals with disabilities into society. BCIL will advocate to policymakers and legislative leaders, maintain and strengthen operations for the Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights (DAAHR) Coalition, organize the disability community against any threats to coverage or affordability, develop organizational technical expertise, and provide policy analysis and input to the field, particularly related to One Care. BCIL will also increase capacity to focus on behavioral health integration and social equity.

Health Care for All (HCFA) will focus its advocacy on achieving an affordable, accessible health care system for all Massachusetts residents. HCFA-led coalitions will work on behalf of consumers, addressing issues such as health reform implementation, oral health, children’s health, and health equity. HCFA will remain the coalition leader for the Campaign for Better Care, Oral Health Advocacy Task Force, and the Affordable Care Today (ACT!!) Coalition.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) will strive for access to services for all who need them and end the stigma around mental illness.  Their strategies include educating families and individuals to understand their illnesses and advocating for needed services. NAMI will strengthen their policy focus on the following issues: a lack of uniform access to health-related benefits; lack of recognition of cost-effective treatment modalities by MassHealth; and inequitable treatment of disability coverage for mental illness.

Health Law Advocates (HLA) will ensure universal access to quality health care in Massachusetts, particularly for those at-risk due to factors such as race, gender, disability, age, or geographic location. HLA supports four initiatives: the Health Care Reform Initiative, the Children’s Mental Health Access Project, the Medical Debt Initiative, and the Pro Bono Legal Network Program. HLA will provide individual representation for Massachusetts residents under 300% FPL who have been denied access to health care or have received unaffordable medical bills, public policy advocacy and, where necessary, class-action litigation.

Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition’s Health Access Campaign advocates for health care coverage for all immigrants. MIRA supports bills to lift caps for the Children’s Medical Security Plan, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and reinsert affordability protections for the lowest-income residents ineligible for MassHealth. MIRA will also convene a Task Force on Immigrant Healthcare Professionals to examine barriers to relicensing faced by thousands of foreign-trained health care professionals.

Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) will support the civil rights of people with disabilities by providing a unified voice for the community. DPC will promote consumer education and networking, community organizing, grassroots advocacy, policy promotion, and collaborative projects with government and nonprofit entities. It will continue its work with the DAAHR coalition and its Implementation Council, provide cross disability advocacy for access to health care, protect consumer choice and control, influence the implementation of One Care, integrate behavioral health into its work, and prioritize research focused on individuals with disabilities.

Through its Health Access Campaign, the Massachusetts Immigrant Refugee & Advocacy Coalition will advocate for all immigrants to maintain current coverage or obtain benefits under the Affordable Care Act.  It will translate and share information on health coverage options available through the federal law to educate members, policymakers, and community-based organizations that serve immigrant stakeholders.  

Health Care For All will continue its advocacy agenda to ensure comprehensive health care and coverage for consumers during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.  The organization will support and monitor the transition for the newly eligible, uninsured and underinsured populations between health plans as the federal and state laws are reconciled.  Finally, it will continue its leadership of various coalitions, including the Campaign for Better Care, Oral Health Advocacy Task Force, and the Affordable Care Today (ACT!!) Coalition to ensure legislative and community support for consumer-centered policy recommendations.

Boston Center for Independent Living will continue to co-lead the Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights (DAAHR) Coalition with the Disability Policy Consortium.  The organization will educate policymakers and legislative leaders, maintain and strengthen DAAHR, organize the disability community, develop organizational technical expertise, and provide policy analysis and input to the field, particularly related to the Duals Demonstration Project, known as One Care.

Greater Boston Interfaith Organization will continue its strategic advocacy agenda focused on health care cost containment, monitoring Chapter 224 implementation, and mobilizing its membership in developing a “train-the-trainer” model.  The organization will develop articulated policy positions and principles in holding public and private stakeholders accountable for results, while negotiating with key stakeholders around consumer interests in mitigating rising health care costs.

Health Law Advocates will continue its advocacy work in five areas:  health care reform implementation, medical debt advocacy, children’s mental health access, access to oral health care, and pro-bono legal support.  Additionally, the organization will provide individual representation for residents who have been denied access to health care or have received unaffordable medical bills.  

Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) will support the civil rights of people with disabilities by providing a unified voice for the community. DPC will promote consumer education and networking, community organizing, grassroots advocacy, policy promotion, and collaborative projects with government and nonprofit entities. It will continue its work with the DAAHR coalition and its Implementation Council, provide cross disability advocacy for access to health care, protect consumer choice and control, influence the implementation of One Care, integrate behavioral health into its work, and prioritize research focused on individuals with disabilities.

Massachusetts Senior Action Council will advocate for health care access for the over 65 population.  It will advocate for its constituents around growing out-of-pocket costs and affordability, expanding access to community-based long-term care by eliminating disparities in eligibility for personal care attendant services, and ensuring adequate funding for home care.  Finally, the organization will increase awareness of and streamline enrollment for existing senior health care programs.