MedicaidAdministrativeMedium impact
Community Health Center Bulletin 128: Updated Application for Seniors and People Needing Long-Term-Care Services (SACA-2)
MassHealth·MA · Geriatrics·Provider Bulletin
Effective date
Oct 1, 2026
We identified it
Aug 15, 2026
Summary
MassHealth updated the SACA-2 application form for seniors and long-term care beneficiaries to comply with federal legislation (P.L. 119-21). The key change adds a new question (Question 13, Step 2) asking applicants about immigration status (Lawful Permanent Resident, Cuban-Haitian Entrant, or COFA migrant). This affects eligibility determination for MassHealth coverage effective October 1, 2026.
Action Required
By September 15, 2026: Billing and eligibility teams must update patient intake and verification procedures to capture the new immigration status question (Question 13) from the revised SACA-2 application. Train front-desk staff and eligibility staff to properly document responses regarding Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR), Cuban-Haitian Entrant (CHE), or Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant status during patient registration. Update your EMR/practice management system to include this field in the patient demographic section. Ensure all staff processing MassHealth applications use the August 2026 version of SACA-2 (not previous versions). Beginning October 1, 2026, eligibility determinations for MassHealth seniors and long-term care members will be based on responses to this new question; incorrect or missing documentation may result in coverage delays or denials.