Filed Date: Sept. 12, 2000
Closed Date: May 14, 2004
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On September 12, 2000 five elderly and disabled individuals filed suit against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Division of Medical Assistance, and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. They alleged that the defendants had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12111 et seq., the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794 et seq., and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. They claimed that the defendants applied more stringent standards consisting of high recurring deductibles to the elderly in computing Medicaid benefits and that this forced elderly patients into nursing homes even though with appropriate care they could be treated within the community as they desired.
Plaintiffs also filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction on September 12, 2000 but these motions were avoided by a series of agreements that addressed the needs of the plaintiffs while the suit was pending. The parties negotiated adjustments to the system while conducting discovery and on December 31, 2001 Massachusetts submitted a State Plan Amendment to Center for Medicare and Medical Services for approval that would enable the state to meet the needs of the plaintiffs. On March 5, 2002 the district court (Judge Michael A. Ponsor) denied plaintiffs motion for class certification without prejudice.
After the amendment to the state plan was approved the defendants proceeded to fully adjust state Medicaid rules to make it easier for the elderly to receive benefits that enabled community based care, developed new application forms and information booklets, and trained staff as to how to provide additional aid to the elderly. Based on these developments that parties settled the lawsuit and entered the settlement with the court on February 5, 2003. The settlement provided for a one year period of reports by the defendants to the plaintiffs regarding progress in providing additional care to the elderly. The settlement ended in 2004, and the case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Michael Perry (2/24/2011)
Benjamin, Peter R. (Massachusetts)
Cronin, Neil (Massachusetts)
Engel, Matthew (Massachusetts)
Hatrick, Kristi (Massachusetts)
Gagne, Cynthia J. (Massachusetts)
Last updated Dec. 18, 2024, 7:26 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: Massachusetts
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 12, 2000
Closing Date: May 14, 2004
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Five elderly and disabled individuals who were unable to obtain the services necessary to receive community care because of more stringent requirements applied to the elderly.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Attorney Organizations:
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: Yes
Class Action Outcome: Denied
Defendants
The Division of Medical Assistance (Boston, Suffolk), State
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Boston, Suffolk), State
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (Boston, Suffolk), State
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 12111 et seq.
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Constitutional Clause(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Preliminary relief request withdrawn/mooted
Order Duration: 2003 - 2004
Issues
Benefits (Source):