MassHealth Access Program

The MassHealth Access Program (MAP) is a collaboration among the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), the Massachusetts Office of Medicaid, and the community served by both agencies. Established in 1996 in the Office of Community Programs (OCP), its central mission is working to improve access and delivery of quality care to MassHealth members and uninsured individuals. Many OCP programs are developed through the MAP initiative. 

Through MAP, OCP provides technical assistance, program development and support, and policy recommendations for the MassHealth Program. OCP works closely with MassHealth and its health care providers in many areas including dental education and outreach, education and training, health care access projects and community health centers. 

Examples of OCP initiatives developed through the MAP collaboration include: 

• The Medical Interpreter Training Program, which in the past year has educated over 350 individuals as professional interpreters throughout the state.  
• The development of 35 new dental operatories to provide much needed oral health care to children since 1999. 
• Loan Repayment and scholarship programs for dentists and dental students with clinical placements that will serve publicly insured individuals. 
• Support to the state’s three newest federally qualified Community Health Centers  serving the Mid/Upper Cape, the South Berkshires and the Fitchburg /Leominster areas. 

• Development of the MassHealth Training Forum to provide timely information exchange between the operational components of MassHealth and the larger MassHealth community of providers, partners, and advocates.