The Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative convenes quarterly Statewide Network Meetings that focus on timely issues and are aimed at connecting age- and dementia friendly community efforts with knowledge, resources, funding opportunities and more. The most recent meeting featured Pat Baker and Jeni Kaplan from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and focused on the impacts of federal policies on older adults and others.

More specifically, the presentations informed attendees about changes to SNAP and Medicaid/MassHealth. In Massachusetts, SNAP helps 1/6 of all residents put food on the table, which represents 662,000 households and more than one million individuals. Of those individuals, 24 percent are age 60 and older. The Medicare and Medicaid impacts are centered on increased administrative burden on individuals and cuts immigrants’ access to coverage.

Additionally, the presentations include what communities and partners can do as these changes roll out with helpful links, phone numbers and toolkits.

See the full presentations below:

• Medicare and Medicaid Impacts (slides)
• SNAP Cuts (slides)