Legal Assistance
Triage Cancer Legal Assistance Quick Guide
American Bar Association Lawyer Referral Programs
LawHelp
www.lawhelp.org/find-help
American Bar Association Free Legal Answers
www.freelegalanswers.org
Medical-Legal Partnerships
http://medical-legalpartnership.org/partnerships/
State Cancer Information
State Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
State Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
State Health Care Coverage Facts
Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
https://ccf.georgetown.edu/state-childrens-health-facts/
Disability Insurance
Federal Disability Insurance (SSDI & SSI)
Social Security Administration
800.772.1213
www.ssa.gov
To find your local SSA office:
https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp
Estate Planning & Medical Decision Making
Triage Cancer Quick Guide to Estate Planning
Triage Cancer Checklist: Getting Organized
Massachusetts Advanced Health Care Directives
Wills & Trusts
State Laws on Creating Wills
Probate and Family Court forms for wills, estates, and trusts
Employment
Federal Fair Employment Agency
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
800.669.4000
info@eeoc.gov
www.eeoc.gov
Reasonable Accommodations
Job Accommodation Network
800.526.7234
jan@AskJAN.org
www.AskJAN.org
Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
U.S. Department of Labor
Wage & Hour Division
866.487.9243
www.dol.gov/whd
State Fair Employment Agency
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
617.994.6000
www.mass.gov/mcad
State Health Care Coverage Facts
Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
https://ccf.georgetown.edu/state-childrens-health-facts/
Paid Family Leave
Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML)
www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-family-and-medical-leave
MassPFML@Mass.gov
Vocational Rehabilitation
Massachusetts Department of Health and Human Services,
617.573.1600
www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/disability-services/vocational-rehab/
Health Insurance
Massachusetts Health Insurance Marketplace (a.k.a Exchange)
Health Connector
877.623.6765
www.mahealthconnector.org/
Health Insurance Consumer Assistance Program & External Appeals
617.727.4765
www.mass.gov/ago/consumer-resources/consumer-assistance/
Massachusetts Division of Insurance
877.563.4467 or 617.521.7794
www.mass.gov/doi
COBRA
U.S. Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration
866.444.3272
www.dol.gov/ebsa
COBRA-Massachusetts
Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, Consumer Service Division
877.563.4467
www.mass.gov/ocabr/insurance/health-insurance/consumer-guides/minicobra.html
State Children’s Health Insurance Program
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF)
617.624.6060 or 800.882.1435
www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/programs/family-health/cicrf/
Find Health & Dental Coverage For Your Family
InsureKids.gov
https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/coverage/ma/index.html
Medicaid Programs
Triage Cancer Guide to Medicaid Expansion
MassHealth
888.665.9993
www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/masshealth/
In-Home Support Services (IHSS)
Massachusetts Office of ElderAffairs
www.mass.gov/elders/homecare/
State Medicaid Program for In-Home Care
Personal Care Attendant
https://www.mass.gov/masshealth-personal-care-attendant-pca-program
MassHealth Premium Assistance (PA)
800.862.4840
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/masshealth-premium-assistance-pa
Medicare
Medicare
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
800.MEDICARE (633.4227)
www.medicare.gov
Medicare Assistance
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
800.243.4636
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/executive-office-of-elder-affairs
Health Care Programs & Laws
Women’s Health & Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Sharing Medical Information with Family & Friends
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/
understanding/consumers/sharing-family-friends.pdf
Hill Burton Federally-Funded Health Centers
Federally Qualified Health Centers
National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
Unemployment Resources
Unemployment Agency
Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development, Department of Unemployment Assistance
617.626.6800
www.mass.gov/lwd/unemployment-insur
Agency: Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development
Information available at: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-unemployment-assistance. File here: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-unemployment-benefits. File weekly certifications here: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-weekly-unemployment-benefits or here: (617) 626-6338. Initial payments will be made within three or four weeks if a claimant is eligible. The maximum weekly benefit amount is $823 for an individual and $1,234 for an individual with dependents. Benefits may be claimed for a maximum of 30 weeks. Payment may be made via direct deposit or debit card. A comprehensive guidebook can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/a-guide-to-benefits-and-employment-services-0/download. Detailed guides on how to apply are available here: https://www.mass.gov/unemployment-insurance-ui-online/resources. Informational videos can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwY12RXV-B8jFMow3heYYTICZvc4o0h9Y. Customer service can be reached here: (877) 626-6800 (or dialing 711 for relay). Claimants are required to maintain job search records and may be required to appear in person at a MassHire Career Center.
Updates related to Massachusetts unemployment benefits and Covid-19: https://www.mass.gov/alerts/important-unemployment-information#1461081, https://www.mass.gov/doc/covid-19-unemployment-handbook-initial-claims-filed-on-or-after-march-15-2020/download, and https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-pandemic-unemployment-assistance.
State Clinical Trials Law
The ACA requires that most, non-grandfathered, group health plans provide coverage for the routine costs when participating in clinical trials. Some states have more consumer protections. Click here for more information about clinical trials.
M.G.L.A. 175 §110L, 176A §8X – The statute applies to all health plans issued or renewed in the commonwealth on or after January 1, 2003. Health plans must cover all patient care services associated with all Phases of qualified clinical trials.
A “qualified clinical trial” is one that is intended to treat cancer. Second, it must be peer reviewed and approved by either: (1) NIH, (2) NIH-sponsored cooperative group or center, (3) a qualified nongovernmental research entity, (4) U.S. F.D.A., (5) U.S. Dept. of Defense, (6) U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, or (7) a qualified IRB (applies to Phase II, III, and IV clinical trials only). Third, the facility or personnel providing the experimental treatment must be experienced. Fourth, the patient must meet specified criteria set forth in the protocol. Fifth, the patient must provide informed consent for participation. Sixth, data related to the clinical trial must provide a reasonable expectation that the treatment will provide a medical benefit to the participant. Seventh, the clinical trial must not duplicate existing studies. Eighth, the clinical trial must have a “therapeutic intent.”
This state has mandated an additional requirement on Phase I clinical trials – the facility must be an academic medical center or affiliated facility and the clinicians conducting the trial must have privileges at the academic medical center. (current 5/31/2011).
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2002/Chapter257
Paid Family Sick Leave
Massachusetts’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law goes into effect in 2021.
- Who’s eligible? All W-2 workers who work in Massachusetts and have earned at least $4,700 in the previous 12 months. Self-employed individuals can opt in to the program.
- Who can be cared for? To care for a family member with a serious health condition or manage one’s own serious health condition. Family member includes a spouse, domestic partner, child, parent or in-law, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling.
- How much time is given? 12 weeks to care for others, 20 weeks for one’s owns serious health condition. An individual can take a maximum combined leave of 26 weeks/year.
- How much is paid? Benefits are calculated as a percentage of your earnings, with a maximum benefit of $850/week. You can calculate your benefit amount here.
- How do I apply? Available January 2021.