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  • 10 Years After “To Err is Human”: An Assessment of Progress (and a Webinar!)

    The January 2010 issue of Health Affairs includes an article looking at progress in patient safety in the 10 years since the Institute of Medicine issued its seminal report “To Err is Human” which found that medical errors cause up to 98,000 deaths per year. The author, Dr. Robert M. [...]
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    Posted: December 07, 2009, 2:18pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Values, Leadership — and Economics

    Last week, Governor Patrick showed us why his values and leadership matter. On Monday, he directed state officials to take steps to save the Medical Security Program. On Friday, when the state learned it was receiving an unexpected $82 million tax settlement, he again took action. With the funds, the [...]
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    Posted: December 07, 2009, 7:24am EST
    by HCFA

  • “Talkin bout the flu” - BPHC’s Message You Can Dance To

    From the always-cutting-edge Boston Public Health Commission: a way cool music video about flu prevention: The BPHC is also doing Facebook (www.facebook.com/HealthyBoston), a You Tube channel, and Twitter. [...]
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    Posted: December 05, 2009, 10:41am EST
    by admin

  • 41,000+ Seniors and Disabled To Lose Prescription Assistance

    Budget cuts are eliminating benefits for over 41,300 low income people in Prescription Advantage, which helps seniors and some younger persons with disabilities afford their medications. After a series of budget cuts, starting Januaury 1 the program will only provide a fraction of the assistance it provided just a year [...]
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    Posted: December 01, 2009, 8:30am EST
    by admin

  • HCFA Letter to Editor Points Out Consumer Role in Health Care

    The New York Times Magazine yesterday published a letter-to-the-editor sent in by HCFA in response to the article on Intermountain Healthcare that was published 3 weeks ago (read our blog overview of the story). The letter points out that while the article focuses on the high quality of care provided [...]
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    Posted: November 30, 2009, 11:58am EST
    by HCFA

  • Health Care Financing Committee to hold December 3 Public Hearing

    Number of comments: 3
    Thursday, the legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing will hear two key bills affecting young people: S.39 / H.188 – An Act to Assure Continuity of Health Coverage For Children, and S. 609 - An Act Relative to the Qualifying Student Health Insurance Program. The hearing will be at 11:30 am [...]
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    Posted: November 30, 2009, 11:46am EST
    by HCFA

  • Felicitações

    Congratulations to HCFA Outreach Manager Dayanne Leal on receiving the Community Activist of 2009 award. Dayanne was honored this week by Assistencia Total Brasileira at its First Annual Thanksgiving Fundraiser and Award Dinner. Assistenica Total recognized Dayanne for her outstanding work for social justice here and in Brazil. Dayanne is a devoted [...]
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    Posted: November 25, 2009, 9:48am EST
    by HCFA

  • Sen. Kirk: As the Senate prepared to vote…, my memory flashed back to my days as a young staffer working for Sen. Ted Kennedy…

    Senator Paul Kirk has published his reflections on voting on health care reform. He cast his vote Saturday from Senator Kennedy’s desk, and it surely weighed on him: Kennedy’s voice, his energy and his unique legislative skills are deeply missed as the Senate prepares, at long last, to act on this [...]
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    Posted: November 23, 2009, 4:59pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Infections Going Down for Many Possible Reasons

    A Boston Globe article looks at the decrease in infection rates at a number of Boston-area hospitals and cites a number of possible reasons for the decline. Among those reasons mentioned are the upcoming public reports on hospital-acquired infections that will be issued through the Department of Public Health early [...]
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    Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:46am EST
    by HCFA

  • Children Are Not Little Adults

    On Friday, Dr. James Mandell, CEO of Children’s Hospital Boston, presented “Children are not Little Adults: A Pediatric View on Payment and Insurance Reform” at the Health Law and Policy Forum Brown Bag Lunch Series. Through case studies, Dr. Mandell emphasized that the issues surrounding pediatric care are different than [...]
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    Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:39am EST
    by HCFA

  • Massachusetts Employer Coverage Success Cited in Senate Health Reform Bill

    Number of comments: 2
    Is the individual mandate unconstitutional? Experts say no, but the far right keeps claiming the mandate goes beyond the power of Congress to regulate interstate commerce. The Senate health reform bill includes a section to make the case that the mandate is allowed, and cites the experience of Massachusetts to [...]
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    Posted: November 21, 2009, 11:27am EST
    by admin

  • Thank you Nancy Ridley!

    Nancy Ridley being congratulated by DPH Commissioner AuerbachThe Public Health Council met on Wednesday for its monthly meeting. The Council meeting was the last time Nancy Ridley would present to the group, and as Commissioner Auerbach noted, “probably no person has come before the PHC as many times as Nancy.” [...]
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    Posted: November 19, 2009, 5:28pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Medical Errors and Empowered Patients

    CNN.com reports on the story of a pregnant woman named Kerry who was given a CT scan of the abdomen when she went in to the emergency room after experiencing bleeding. It turned out that the hospital made a mistake in giving her a CT scan. The scan was meant [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 6:55pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Great American Healthup

    Number of comments: 2
    Massachusetts does it again! By thinking outside the box, the state has provided accessible tools for MassHealth adults to quit smoking, and the program has seen unprecedented success. Today, on the eve of the Great American Smokeout, the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program held and event at the State House [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 5:42pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Share the Pain

    As we posted last night, we understand the deep fiscal pain the Commonwealth is undergoing. That’s why we support looking at balanced revenue approaches, such as closing loopholes in our tax expenditure budget, or rethinking the planned drop in corporate tax rates (details, from Mass Budget and Policy Center). But while [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 2:55pm EST
    by HCFA

  • November Disparities Council Meeting Canceled

    The upcoming Disparities Council meeting originally scheduled for Monday, November 23 has been canceled. For more information about the Council, please visit their website. -Jessica Hamilton [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 2:29pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Also On Today’s Agenda: Save MSP

    Number of comments: 2
    Also on today’s legislative agenda is the Patrick administration’s request for a $30 million stopgap appropriation for the Medical Security Program (MSP). We urge the legislature to approve the funds. The alternative would be loss of coverage to thousands, and the loss of hundreds of millions in federal funds. MSP provides [...]
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    Posted: November 18, 2009, 7:31am EST
    by HCFA

  • MassHealth Cuts: A Better Way

    Number of comments: 2
    Wednesday is the last day of formal legislative sessions for the year, and the House and Senate are expected to act on the Patrick administration’s request for flexibility to permit a number of reductions in services and increases in copays to MassHealth members. MassHealth is now expected to spend around [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 11:38pm EST
    by admin

  • QCC Meets Tomorrow

    The Quality and Cost Council is meeting tomorrow, 1-3pm, 1 Ashburton Place, 21st floor, Boston. The agenda includes committee reports, an implementation update on the Roadmap to Cost Containment, and a presentation from the MeHI on the plan for EMR implementation. [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 3:02pm EST
    by HCFA

  • MassHealth Smoking Cessation Program Works – DPH Releases Data Tomorrow at State House

    This Thursday, November 19th is the 2009 Great American Smokeout, a project initiated by the American Cancer Society to educate the public about the health risks of smoking and encouraging them to quit, while shining a light on resources available to those who are trying to quit. In Massachusetts, one [...]
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    Posted: November 17, 2009, 1:57pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Forum Looks at Successes in MassHealth Pharmacy Program

    Community Catalyst, The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum and the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute welcomed Boston’s medical and health policy community on Friday to discuss the MassHealth Prescription Drug Quality and Cost Management program. The forum began with a presentation on the findings of several researchers on implementation of the MassHealth [...]
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    Posted: November 16, 2009, 9:17pm EST
    by admin

  • Public Health Council to Meet Wednesday

    DPH’s Public Health Council will be having their monthly meeting on Wednesday starting at 9:00 AM. Two interesting presentations on the schedule (pdf). First, the release of the Betsy Lehman Center’s report of the expert panel in obstetrics. The Center’s Director, Nancy Ridley, will be presenting. Nancy will be retiring [...]
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    Posted: November 13, 2009, 1:21pm EST
    by HCFA

  • What’s the Picture for Artists Three Years after Health Reform?

    Number of comments: 1
    The Massachusetts Artists Foundation recently released a report assessing the impact of state health reform on professional artists. The report, Stand Up and Be Counted: A Survey of Massachusetts Artists on Their Work Lives, Socioeconomic Status, Access to Healthcare, and Medical and Non-Medical Debt (pdf) compiles extensive survey data from 3,145 [...]
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    Posted: November 13, 2009, 8:58am EST
    by admin

  • Smart Jon Gruber Interview on Coverage Expansion Before Cost Control

    Connector Board member and MIT economist Jon Gruber was interviewed today by Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein. In addition to the mention of Health Care For All, the interview shines lots of lights on how expanding coverage is the first step to getting serious about cost control: Klein: One of the [...]
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    Posted: November 12, 2009, 9:41pm EST
    by admin

  • Connector Board Report – November 12th

    On Jay Gonzalez’s first Connector Board meeting as Secretary of Administration & Finance and the chair of the Connector Board, there was plenty to discuss. Materials from the meeting are posted here. The meeting discussed the plans for next year’s Commonwealth Care program, and examined the small business Commonwealth Choice [...]
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    Posted: November 12, 2009, 8:57pm EST
    by admin

  • The Secret of our Success — Revealed!

    Number of comments: 1
    Why has Massachusetts been so successful in increasing heath care coverage to uninsured residents? A new study provides the answer! The study, by Urban Institute researched Stan Dorn and colleagues, was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As the report notes, by the summer of 2008—less than two years [...]
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    Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:58pm EST
    by admin

  • Evidence-Based Medicine and Quality of Care

    Number of comments: 1
    Sunday’s NY Times Magazine cover story focused on Intermountain Healthcare, a network of hospitals and clinics in Utah and Idaho that is mentioned by many as an example of how care should be provided across the country. Medical providers and leaders of health care institutions from around the world go [...]
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    Posted: November 10, 2009, 10:21am EST
    by HCFA

  • Children’s Mental Health on the Road – Somerville

    Last Thursday evening, the Children’s Mental Health Campaign held its 15th regional forum in Somerville. The event, cosponsored by the City of Somerville, drew over 40 individuals from Somerville and the surrounding communities. As always, the most powerful and heart-wrenching stories were those from parents. Three mothers spoke of their [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 5:11pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Report on Quality and Cost of Hospital Care Released

    The Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, using data posted on the Quality and Cost Council’s website (www.mass.gov/myhealthcareoptions), issued a report allowing for a side-by-side comparison of hospitals’ quality ratings and costs for care for a defined set of treatments and conditions. The report also includes summary pages for [...]
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    Posted: November 09, 2009, 5:04pm EST
    by HCFA

  • AARP Supports Two HCFA Quality Bills

    Number of comments: 1
    The September 1 Massachusetts AARP Bulletin featured a story about legislation in Massachusetts seeking to prevent hospital infections and seeking to reduce the overuse of CT scans. Health Care For All worked with Massachusetts legislators to introduce both of these bills. H. 2139, filed by Representative Denise Provost, requires hospital [...]
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    Posted: November 08, 2009, 5:25pm EST
    by admin

  • Who’s Getting Over on Students?

    Many of us who have ever been enrolled in a student health plan (SHP) and all of us in the health policy arena knew that student plans are lousy. Last week, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy released its Student Health Program Baseline Report (ppt), the first of [...]
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    Posted: November 08, 2009, 3:53pm EST
    by admin

  • Thanksgiving is Now — House Health Reform Vote

    All 10 members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation voted for the House health bill last night (see national voting chart). Now they need to hear our gratitude and appreciation. It’s time for thanks-giving. We are proud that health reform is based on the Massachusetts template and our success has given Washington [...]
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    Posted: November 08, 2009, 11:18am EST
    by admin

  • Who Care for the Caregivers?

    The Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI), in collaboration with Amy Lischko of the Department of Public health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, released findings from a survey of eldercare and disability services employers. The study, Coverage for Caregivers: Lessons from Massachusetts Health Reform, examines the impact of [...]
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    Posted: November 06, 2009, 6:20pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Commonwealth Care Bridge Roll-Out: One Last Chance To Get It Right

    Today’s Globe article, “Immigrants face hurdles with new care coverage, points out that many of the legal immigrants who were automatically enrolled in Commonwealth Care Bridge program on Oct. 1st and Nov. 1st experienced delays in receiving enrollment materials. This is an issue HCFA’s HelpLine and outreach workers at a [...]
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    Posted: November 05, 2009, 8:40pm EST
    by HCFA

  • Prescription Advantage Cut Again

    Note: this post is from Deborah Banda, State Director, AARP Massachusetts; we join AARP in questioning both the wisdom and the compassion in cutting Prescription Advantage again. Last Thursday, Governor Patrick closed part of the $600 million mid-year state budget gap by cutting $277 million from state agency budgets. The administration [...]
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    Posted: November 04, 2009, 3:09pm EST
    by HCFA

  • CommCare Bridge Clarification

    Our last post on Commonwealth Care Bridge has been updated to include more accurate information on transportation, prescription co-pays, and network development. Please check out the revised information and feel free to contact Suzanne Curry at scurry@hcfama.org with questions. [...]
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    Posted: November 04, 2009, 10:52am EST
    by admin

  • This Makes Me Laugh

    Number of comments: 1
    Now that I’m a Facebook regular (HCFA’s page has 1,955 fans — just 45 to go to meet our 2K goal! C’mon people!), I now find Slate’s Obama’s Facebook feed amusing: - Brian Rosman [...]
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    Posted: November 03, 2009, 6:19pm EST
    by admin

  • Myths and Facts on Comparative Effectiveness Research

    The National Partnership for Women & Families has produced a very informative fact sheet about Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER). It defines CER and then lays out some of the myths, with corresponding responses. The federal government put money toward CER in the stimulus bill and national health reform will most [...]
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    Posted: November 03, 2009, 1:20pm EST
    by admin

  • Heavy and Light on Pharma and Device Marketing

    Two recent pieces of news on the pharmaceutical and medical device industry: First, the heavy: Yesterday, Courthouse News reported that Dr. David Gossman from Leahy Clinic was alleging he was fired for speaking up about ethical concerns. According to Dr. Gossman, a few doctors at the hospital had worked out an ‘arrangement’ with [...]
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    Posted: November 03, 2009, 12:15pm EST
    by admin

  • Health Reform Lowers Costs for Individuals - in MA Now, and Soon Nationally

    Number of comments: 7
    We hear it over and over - “Massachusetts has the highest insurance premiums in the country. Health reform did a great job at expanding access, but it did nothing for costs.” Yes, but . . . As the DOI begins its look at the high cost of health insurance here, focusing [...]
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    Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:29pm EST
    by admin

  • Children’s Mental Health Forum to be held in Somerville this week

    On Thursday, November 5, parents, youth, clinicians, child advocates and community members will convene in Somerville to share their experiences in accessing the children’s mental health care system in Massachusetts. This forum, which begins at 5:30pm is co-sponsored by the City of Somerville, the Somerville Committee on Suicide Prevention and [...]
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    Posted: November 02, 2009, 3:57pm EST
    by admin

  • WSJ Looks at Checklists in Hospitals

    The on-line Wall Street Journal posted an interview with Dr. Peter Pronovost, a leading expert on patient safety and quality improvement. He created a 5-step checklist that hospitals can use to prevent bloodstream infections in the ICU. Michigan hospitals used the checklist and saw their infection rates decrease by 66%. [...]
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    Posted: November 02, 2009, 1:40pm EST
    by admin

  • Connector unveils new Choice site

    The Commonwealth Connector unveils a new website for CommChoice this month (Check it out here by selecting a plan that starts on January 1st). The new website has the feel of an online shopping experience for a major department store. The revamped website is in response to requests by Board [...]
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    Posted: November 02, 2009, 10:10am EST
    by admin

  • Wall Street Journal Highlights Efforts to Prevent Infections

    The Wall Street Journal earlier this week featured an article about hospital-acquired infections and steps that are being taken to prevent them. Among the interventions listed is public reporting of infections, which became law in Massachusetts in 2008 under Chapter 305. The first listing of infections by hospital will be [...]
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    Posted: November 01, 2009, 1:00pm EST
    by admin

  • Consumer Union’s Safe Patient Project Hosting Webcast

    Consumers Union’s Safe Patient Project (formerly Stop Hospital Infections) is holding a forum, “To Err Is Human, To Delay Is Deadly,” at the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, DC on November 17th. The forum marks the 10th anniversary of the Institute of Medicine study on medical errors and raises concerns [...]
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    Posted: November 01, 2009, 12:59pm EST
    by admin

  • MA Children’s Mental Health Workforce Capacity: “Who is going to do the work?”

    Last week, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Massachusetts released Accessing Children’s Mental Health Services in Massachusetts: Workforce Capacity Assessment (pdf). It’s no secret that there is a workforce shortage among mental health practitioners treating children with mental health needs. In some geographic areas, up to 82% of prescriber [...]
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    Posted: October 31, 2009, 6:00pm EDT
    by admin

  • Crucial Dental Benefits for Adults on MassHealth SAVED!

    Health Care For All and the Oral Health Advocacy Task Force applauds the Governor’s continued support for health reform, including oral health. Although he faced many difficult decisions as he fought to balance the budget, and are grateful that he has preserved adult dental benefits in MassHealth. Oral health is [...]
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    Posted: October 30, 2009, 4:23pm EDT
    by admin

  • CommCare Bridge Update: Important Information for Nov. 1st

    Number of comments: 1
    As the second phase of Commonwealth Care Bridge enrollment begins, here is some important information that may be useful to you: November 1st Enrollment Over 10,000 residents in the northern and southern parts of the state are expected to be automatically enrolled into Commonwealth Care Bridge on November 1st - Sunday. Here’s [...]
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    Posted: October 30, 2009, 4:18pm EDT
    by admin

  • “We should be just as concerned about our commitment to our values as we are about the value of our commitments”

    Citing a new mantra - “Leadership Through Values” - Governor Patrick announced $352 million in cuts to the FY10 state budget this afternoon. He described how he balanced his constitutional duty with his moral values: “Those values include creating good jobs at good wages, offering a world-class education to our [...]
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    Posted: October 29, 2009, 6:08pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • DOI Sets Small Business Insurance Premium Hearings; Releases Premium Data

    As the Governor called for last week, the Division of Insurance has announced an ambitious schedule of hearings to look into rising small business health insurance premium rates. The DOI announcement explains that the hearings will be in two stages. The first stage will consist of 5 “introductory informational” public [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2009, 5:13pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • Dental Cuts are Dangerous

    Number of comments: 1
    As we wait to hear how Governor Patrick plans to make cuts in the state budget to make up for the $600 million dollar deficit, we are fearful that this will include crucial dental benefits for adults on MassHealth. The MassHealth adult dental benefits provide access to dental care for [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2009, 2:48pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • Point / Counterpoint — or not?

    Number of comments: 6
    I was dying to make a reference to the Jane Curtin-Dan Akroyd point/counterpoint catchphrase in commenting on yesterday’s Wall Street Journal, but after hardly anyone on the staff recognized the reference when I used it at a staff meeting a few weeks ago, I’ll refrain here. Even fewer remembered the [...]
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    Posted: October 28, 2009, 9:19am EDT
    by admin

  • Public Health Committee Hears Bills

    Last week, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing on health insurance and financing related bills. The hearing was chaired by Senator Fargo and Representative Sanchez and began with an executive session to favorably report out S. 810. This bill establishes a permanent Office of Health Equity [...]
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    Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:20pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • Disparities Council Recap

    The Health Disparities Council held its monthly meeting on Monday. Chaired by Representative Rushing and EOHHS Secretary Bigby, the members focused on legislative opportunities to address health disparities in Massachusetts. Public Health Committee Chair Jeffrey Sanchez opened the meeting with a report on recently moved bills S.810 and S. 811, [...]
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    Posted: October 27, 2009, 5:15pm EDT
    by admin

  • Martha Bebinger, Rep. Lewis Describe MA Payment Reform

    Martha Bebinger, on leave from WBUR to participate in the Nieman fellowship at Harvard University, has written a solid, hopeful summary of the Massachusetts payment reform process for the journal Health Affairs. Bebinger’s article, Mission Not Yet Accomplished? Massachusetts Contemplates Major Moves On Cost Containment, is an editor’s choice selection [...]
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    Posted: October 27, 2009, 4:43pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • Read All The Reports

    Lots of interesting reports out in the past few days looking at Massachusetts health care access. Individually, each presents a slightly different picture, based on what they looked at and how they looked at it. One theme is that while Massachusetts health reform has done a remarkable job of increasing [...]
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    Posted: October 26, 2009, 11:55pm EDT
    by admin

  • Colleges Addressing Mental Health Needs of Students: A Few Thoughts

    NPR’s Morning Edition today featured a story about efforts by certain colleges to more effectively address the mental health needs of their students. A wide-ranging piece, there were some points worth pulling out and thinking about. Stigma remains a tragically persistent barrier for many individuals and families touched by mental illness. [...]
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    Posted: October 26, 2009, 4:15pm EDT
    by admin

  • Betsy Lehman Center Seeking Nominations for Patient Safety Award

    The Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction is seeking nominations for its patient safety award. This annual award was established in 2005 to recognize leadership and innovation in patient safety, including public awareness, education and promotion of systems-based solutions through the implementation of best practices. Eligible [...]
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    Posted: October 26, 2009, 3:22pm EDT
    by admin

  • Thanks and Congratulations to Sarah Iselin

    Number of comments: 1
    We want to extend our warmest thanks and congratulations to Sarah Iselin who will be leaving her job as the Commissioner of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy at the end of the year to take over the helm of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. [...]
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    Posted: October 23, 2009, 4:46pm EDT
    by admin

  • Reducing Medical Errors through National Health Reform

    National health reform legislation includes some quality of care provisions but, as a Hearst newspapers article points out, none of the federal bills requires medical error reporting and only one (the House bill) requires public reporting of healthcare-associated infections. This is despite the fact that 10 years ago the Institute [...]
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    Posted: October 23, 2009, 1:29pm EDT
    by admin

  • Looking to a Day When Access to Mental Health Services Doesn’t Depend on Where You Go to School

    Working in conjunction with the Boston Public Health Commission, the Children’s Mental Health Campaign sponsored its 16th community forum in Allston at the Gardner Pilot Academy. It was an energetic and inspiring evening, with a mix of policy makers, elected officials, young people, parents, and advocates coming together to talk [...]
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    Posted: October 23, 2009, 12:52pm EDT
    by admin

  • Want To Lower the Number of Uninsured? Look at the 19-21 Age Group

    Number of comments: 2
    Think back to when you were 19. Were you a freshman in college? Living in your first apartment? Working your first full-time job? Living at home with your parents? There are certain age milestones in all of our lives. For many, their late teen / early 20s are ones of transition. [...]
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    Posted: October 23, 2009, 12:46pm EDT
    by admin

  • Docs Dig Reform

    In yet another data point in the category of health reform’s success, Massachusetts doctors support the Commonwealth’s health reform! Bob Blendon of the Harvard School of Public Health in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, published yesterday a survey [...]
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    Posted: October 22, 2009, 8:46pm EDT
    by admin

  • Patient Safety Advocate, Sorrel King, Tells Her Emotional Story to HCFA

    Number of comments: 1
    In just a matter of days, Sorrel King went from planning a welcome home party for her young daughter, to planning her funeral instead. But out of this tragedy, a mother has become a passionate, national patient safety advocate so no other family suffers the same kind of loss. Sorrel told [...]
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    Posted: October 22, 2009, 1:53pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • The Path to Payment Reform: We now have a Roadmap!

    Number of comments: 1
    The HCQCC held their monthly meeting today. There were brief reports from the sub-committees starting with the Quality & Safety Committee, which gave a quick update on the Care Transitions Forum, the Expert Panel on Hospital Mortality, MOLST, and the Expert Panel on Care at the End of Life. All [...]
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    Posted: October 21, 2009, 6:25pm EDT
    by admin

  • Priority Health Disparities Legislation Moves Forward

    The Disparities Action Network (DAN) is pleased to announce that the Joint Committee on Public Health favorably reported its two priority bills on Wednesday. S. 810 and S. 811 provide Massachusetts with a comprehensive health disparities strategy by codifying the EOHHS Office of Health Equity and supporting community based agencies [...]
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    Posted: October 21, 2009, 4:16pm EDT
    by admin

  • 4th Annual Connector Board Retreat

    This past Saturday, October 17th, the Connector Board held its fourth annual retreat, with the following agenda: Introduction & State Finances State Financial Outlook CommCare FY10 Update Integration of CommCare & CommChoice Long Range Planning National Health Reform Payment Reform (Global Payments) New ANF Secretary Jay Gonzalez ably chaired the retreat, thoughtful and soft-spoken, with all other [...]
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    Posted: October 20, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
    by admin

  • Quality and Cost Council Meets Tomorrow

    The Quality and Cost Council is meeting tomorrow, October 21, 1:00-4:00pm at 1 Ashburton Place, 21st floor. The agenda includes: Approval of Minutes from September 30, 2009 meeting Committee Reports and Discussion Quality and Safety Advisory Committee Update from Administrative Director Items for Discussion Findings from Brookings/RAND pilot on indirect estimation of race and ethnicity – [...]
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    Posted: October 20, 2009, 12:26pm EDT
    by admin

  • Joint Committee on Public Health to Hold Legislative Hearing Tomorrow

    The Joint Committee on Public Health will hold a hearing tomorrow in State House Room B-1 at 10am. The topic for tomorrow’s session is Health Insurance and Financing; testimony on approximately 20 bills will be accepted. Two priority HCFA bills, An Act Strengthening Health Reform (S.873/H.4258) and An Act Ensuring Access [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 4:31pm EDT
    by admin

  • Dental Cuts Lead to Death in Michigan

    Last week, a Michigan woman suffered an entirely preventable death caused by a dental infection left untreated because the state cut Adult Dental Medicaid Benefits. A tragic story, but one that should serve as a warning to Governor Patrick as he contemplates 9C cuts. This woman lost her Medicaid dental [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 4:22pm EDT
    by admin

  • Reminder: Event at HCFA Tomorrow with Sorrel King

    A reminder that Sorrel King, a nationally-known patient safety advocate, will be speaking at HCFA tomorrow at 1:00pm. An article about Sorrel appeared in today’s Boston Globe. The event tomorrow is free and open to the public. Contact Deb Wachenheim at dwachenheim@hcfama.org or 617-275-2902 to RSVP and for more information. [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 2:57pm EDT
    by admin

  • Tell your congressional members: It’s time to deliver

    On Tuesday, October 20th, we urge you to pick up the phone and make three critically important phone calls: 2 to your senators and 1 to your representative. Then encourage your networks of friends and family to do the same! On this Day of Action, tell your members, America needs health [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 9:08am EDT
    by admin

  • MSP: “Every Option Is On The Table”

    The Patrick administration and the health care community will soon have to find a solution to the funding problem for the Medical Security Program, which provides health coverage to over 34,000 people in low-income families receiving unemployment benefits. In yesterday’s Boston Globe, Labor Secretary Bump said “every option is on [...]
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    Posted: October 17, 2009, 4:30pm EDT
    by admin

  • Connector Retreat Tomorrow

    The Connector Board is holding their annual retreat in Andover tomorrow, October 17th. The morning will start at 8:30 and run through a social lunch. In past years, the group has used the time to discuss the budget and planning for Commonwealth Care and Commonwealth Choice as well as broader [...]
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    Posted: October 16, 2009, 10:29am EDT
    by admin

  • Event in Worcester on Health Care Quality

    The Partnership for Healthcare Excellence and AARP are co-hosting an event about health care quality at the Greendale Branch YMCA in Worcester on Wednesday, October 21, 5:30-6:30pm. Please click here to read a flyer (.pdf) and learn more about the event. The focus will be on variations in quality of [...]
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    Posted: October 15, 2009, 6:29am EDT
    by admin

  • AG Hearing Looks at Discount Cards

    On Tuesday, October 13, 2009, the Attorney General held a public hearing on proposed regulations on discount health plans and organizations. These regulations are intended to protect consumers from companies who lure consumers with “unscrupulous marketing of plans that claim to offer discounts on medical products or services.” These regulations [...]
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    Posted: October 14, 2009, 11:27pm EDT
    by admin

  • Annual MITSS Dinner on November 12

    A reminder that our friends at MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services) are holding their annual fundraising dinner on November 12 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. Go to the MITSS website (www.mitss.org) to learn more. MITSS provides support to patients, families and clinicians who have been impacted by adverse [...]
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    Posted: October 14, 2009, 1:35pm EDT
    by admin

  • Connector Board Report - October 8

    The Connector Board met on Thursday, October 8, in what was a final meeting for Board Chair and Administration and Finance Secretary Leslie Kirwan (meeting materials are all here). Kirwan began the meeting by thanking everyone for their support and efforts for the Commonwealth Care and Commonwealth Choice and the [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 10:23pm EDT
    by admin

  • Senator Kerry on Insurer Report

    Number of comments: 1
    During today’s health reform debate leading up to the vote in the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Kerry took on the flawed study by Price Waterhouse Coopers claiming health reform would increase premiums, linking it to the public option (source): Connector Board Member Jon Gruber played a key role yesterday in refuting [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 9:53pm EDT
    by admin

  • The Massachusetts Miracle

    Number of comments: 2
    “But perhaps the greatest miracle of all was that shortly before I found out I was sick, I had moved to Cape Cod, Mass., to intern at a radio station and work as a coffee shop barista. I had no medical insurance when I received my diagnosis, but miraculously the [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 5:57pm EDT
    by admin

  • Patient Advocate Sorrel King to Speak at HCFA

    Sorrel King, a nationally-known advocate for patient safety, will be speaking at Health Care For All on Tuesday, October 20, at 1:00 pm. Sorrel’s 18-month-old daughter Josie died in a hospital as a result of medical errors. In the years since losing her daughter, Sorrel has become a passionate and [...]
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    Posted: October 13, 2009, 4:19pm EDT
    by admin

  • Payment Reform Hearing Report

    Number of comments: 1
    At its hearing last Thursday, the legislature’s Committee on Health Care Financing began its public look at payment reform, soliciting public input on the proposal to move to global payments (background here, and HCFA’s take here). The muggy, packed hearing brought out all the players (aka “stakeholders”) in the Massachusetts [...]
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    Posted: October 12, 2009, 11:27pm EDT
    by admin

  • More Congressional Town Halls

    This Columbus Day weekend, Congressman Tierney and Congressman Markey will hold town hall forums to discuss the need for health care reform for all Americans. They want to hear comments, answer questions and get feedback from their constituents about this important issue which has the potential to positively impact the [...]
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    Posted: October 09, 2009, 5:45pm EDT
    by admin

  • The 10 Commitments

    Number of comments: 6
    On October 1st, approximately 11,800 people were automatically enrolled into a new program called Commonwealth Care Bridge run, by CeltiCare health plan. CeltiCare is a for-profit health insurance plan in the Commonwealth, new as of July 1st. Health Care For All and the ACT!! Coalition have many concerns about new [...]
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    Posted: October 09, 2009, 2:48pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • Consumers Speak Out For Payment Reform

    Number of comments: 1
    “You will hear a lot of people say that we need to go slow on payment reform. They will herald the dangers of change. Health Care For All believes that we need to move forward with reforms that improve quality and reduce cost growth. “The truth is that our choice [...]
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    Posted: October 08, 2009, 8:10am EDT
    by admin

  • Find a Flu Clinic Near You

    Flu season is coming upon us quickly. The Massachusetts Public Flu Clinic Finder website (flu.masspro.org)locates public flu clinics in Massachusetts. Right now there are about 800, with more being added every day. Currently, the clinics listed are providing season flu immunizations and some clinics are offering pneumococcal (“pneumonia”) immunizations. The site [...]
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    Posted: October 07, 2009, 5:41pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • Thanks, Melissa (and congrats, Glen)

    Number of comments: 1
    With great sadness, we recognize another departing member of the health reform community. Melissa Boudreault, the Connector’s lead on Commonwealth Care, is returning to independent consulting after Thursday’s Connector Board meeting. Melissa, thank you for your three-plus years of tireless and devoted work on a complex and intense program. You [...]
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    Posted: October 05, 2009, 8:32pm EDT
    by admin

  • New Director of DPH Quality and Safety Bureau Announced

    Alice Bonner, who has been serving as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation, will be joining the Department of Public Health in mid-October as the new Director of the Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality, replacing Paul Dreyer who retired over the summer. Ms. Bonner has [...]
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    Posted: October 05, 2009, 11:30am EDT
    by HCFA

  • Disparities Council Meets on Monday 10/5

    The Commonwealth’s Health Disparities Council will hold it’s next meeting on Monday, October 5 at One Ashburton Place, 21st floor (10am-12pm). Please click here to view the meeting agenda and here to review the Council’s website updates. [...]
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    Posted: October 02, 2009, 3:17pm EDT
    by admin

  • Promoting Oral Health in Worcester

    On Wednesday, UMass Memorial and HCFA teamed up to provide free screenings and fluoride varnish to kids ages 0-21 at the Auburn Mall. Children and their parents enjoyed receiving these services from great providers in a casual, accessible location. Representative Scibak stopped by the event to demonstrate his support for these [...]
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    Posted: October 02, 2009, 3:08pm EDT
    by admin

  • Employer Coverage Strengthening In MA

    Number of comments: 2
    A new study shows that access to employer-sponsored health insurance (ESI) has remained strong in Massachusetts. The study finds no evidence that employers are dropping coverage or tightening eligibility for coverage of their workers. Additionally, the study offers no evidence that the care available under employers sponsored coverage has deteriorated. [...]
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    Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:34pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • HCFA Honored to Receive Federal CHIPRA Outreach Grant

    Number of comments: 2
    Wednesday HCFA received a significant federal grant to enroll and retain MA kids in health coverage. The award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is from a $40 million pool distributed to 69 organizations in 41 states, as part of the CHIP reauthorization bill, CHIPRA. HCFA is honored [...]
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    Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:09pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • All Hospitals Now Have PFAC Plans

    As of today, all hospitals in Massachusetts are required to have plans in place for establishing Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs) by October 1, 2010. Health Care For All and the Consumer Health Quality Council advocated for the legislation requiring PFACs (part of Chapter 305) and are thrilled that [...]
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    Posted: October 01, 2009, 10:08am EDT
    by admin

  • CommCare Bridge Rollout Begins Tomorrow - the Context

    Number of comments: 4
    Tomorrow approximately 11,500 people in the Boston area will become enrolled in the new Commonwealth Care Bridge program – nearly a third of the 31,000 people who are categorized as special status immigrants and who, because of budget shortfalls, lost their access to health care coverage on September 1. We [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 10:07pm EDT
    by HCFA

  • CommCare Bridge Rollout Begins Tomorrow

    Number of comments: 3
    Tomorrow, about 11,500 legal immigrants in the Greater Boston area who lost their Commonwealth Care coverage on August 31st will be transitioned into the new Commonwealth Care Bridge plan, offered by CeltiCare. Legal immigrants in this category north and south of Boston will be enrolled on November 1st; Central and [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 6:09pm EDT
    by admin

  • HCQCC Embarks on a new Road(map)

    The HCQCC met today to discuss the long-awaited Roadmap to Cost Containment (Roadmap). Prior to this part of the meeting, they had a few sub-committee updates. The anticipated sub-committee restructuring has been completed and there are now fewer committees with a sharper focus for each (check out our earlier post [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 6:00pm EDT
    by admin

  • HCFA Launches “A Healthy Tweet” to support HelpLine

    For the month of October, HCFA is asking you to Tweet for Health Reform! A Healthy Tweet is a campaign to spread the word about the importance of health reform while raising money for HCFA’s HelpLine. Click here for the full details or visit http://tinyurl.com/4reform. Hundreds of people call HCFA’s HelpLine [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 1:59pm EDT
    by admin

  • EOHHS Releases Updated Budget Hearing Information

    EOHHS has released an updated notice for the October 8th and 9th FY 11 budget hearings. Click here to download the Notice of Public Hearings (.pdf). UPDATE from EOHHS: “EOHHS has decided to reschedule their budget hearings scheduled for Thursday the 8th (Roxbury) and Friday the 9th (Holyoke). Given the most [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 1:42pm EDT
    by admin

  • Pharma Phollies in Globe

    Yesterday’s Boston Globe includes a pair of stories on the Mass. pharma industry: one on the doctors who took speakers’ fees from Eli Lilly and the other announcing that Boston is hosting the biggest annual biotech convention. We find it poetic that these two stories are paired up and note [...]
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    Posted: September 30, 2009, 8:07am EDT
    by admin

  • How’s your county doing?

    Uninsurance Rates by County Massachusetts has the lowest uninsurance rate in the country. New US Census data confirm the success of health reform in expanding coverage. The data also show significant variation in uninsurance rates among the different counties in Massachusetts. Click here to see an interactive map of Massachusetts that [...]
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    Posted: September 29, 2009, 3:07pm EDT
    by admin
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