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Comments on National Health Care Reform - Cost Containment
Susan Servais, Executive Director, MA Health Council
While there is significant agreement among congressional leaders that the nation must
expand health insurance coverage, improve the quality of health care, and contain costs, there is no consensus about the role the federal government should play and
how to go about creating a fair and equitable system that does not diminish the quality and quantity of medical care that Americans have come to expect. There is no
question that we need to take care of the 48 million Americans who are uninsured. It is expected that a national health care plan can reduce this number to less than 10 million.
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This breakfast will present the business case for change by presenting data on the
cost-effectiveness of developing a workplace wellness program and present actual programs that have been working for both large and small companies. Workplaces are
creating wellness programs to lower their health care costs, reduce sick leave and workers' compensation claims and improve employee morale and commitment. Promoting
workplace wellness is also a way of promoting wellness throughout the community as it impacts the employees' family and friends. In addition, please join us at this meeting as we honor and recognize Representative
Peter Koutoujian, former Chairman of the Committee on Public Health and now Chairman of the Committee on Financial Services, for his many years of working tirelessly to
improve health status for the residents of the Commonwealth. Online Registration is closed.
Please register at the door.
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Sponsorship Opportunities
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Report raises concerns about quality of health in Mass.
(Ally Donnelly, NECN) - A new report on the quality of health in Massachusetts is raising some concerns. Among them a drastic increase in domestic violence, and violence against children.
Miss Kristin leads girls at the Mario Umana middle school in East Boston. Legs fly, voices shout emphatically. Kristin is with "girls leap" or lifetime empowerment and awareness program -- helping
kids with both the physical and emotional affects of violence. Violence -- 7th grader Cristina Campi says is all around.
There's kids stealing other kids money...robbing their phones or ipods...raping kids who are just walking. The leap program seems particularly relevant in light of a new report from the
Massachusetts Health Care Council. Tracking public health issues in two-year increments, the council found Massachusetts has the highest rate of violent crime in
the northeast -- with incidents involving girls and young children on the rise. Domestic violence rates are particularly troubling...in 2005, there were 15 murders and
4 domestic violence-related suicides. In 2007...there were 42 murders and 17 suicides. Susan Servais, head of the council, says it is critical to focus on education -- through
violence prevention programs in schools along with public education campaigns focusing on domestic violence, teen dating violence and child abuse.
Experts are concerned by other findings in the report -- hepatitis C cases are on the rise among young people, so are high school drop out rates and athsma cases. Nearly
60% of adults in Massachusetts are overweight or obese and nearly a quarter of us skipped a trip to the dentist last year, but there *is some good news.
Servais: We don't have rise in new cases of HIV/AIDS in Mass, access to insurance, access to care has improved and tobacco use is down. John Auerbach/MA Dept of Health
If we do pay attention to these issues, organize collaborations across organizational line --gov't and private sector -- and we put resources behind these issues they improve so we're encouraged by that.
But resources may be the biggest issue. State leaders say they've tried to protect core services, but in this economic crisis -- with deep budget cuts to social programs --
some are worried -- the till will be empty when the needy come to call.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Massachusetts Cost Containment Bill: Implementation and Economic Impact
Massachusetts Health Council and Foley & Lardner LLP presented a very successful forum for our
members at Suffolk University Sargent Hall.Welcome and Remarks:
President, MA Health Council
President, MA Association of Health Plans
Alan Einhorn, Esq.
Board of Directors, MA Health Council
Attorney, Foley & Lardner, LLP
Presenters:
Co-Chairman, Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
View Presentation (pdf)
Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, MD
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
View Presentation (pdf)
Commissioner John Auerbach
MA Department of Public Health
View Presentation (pdf)
Proper School Nutrition
According the Massachusett Health Council's 2006 health status indicator report, Common Health for the Commonwealth, Massachusetts is experiencing an epidemic
of childhood obesity and overweight. Between 25-30 percent of the state's 10- 17-year olds are overweight or obese. These children face serious health
consequences, including higher risk of developing diabetes, asthma, heart disease, depression, and low self esteem. 11% of high school students are overweight and
another 16% are at risk of becoming overweight. This combined 27% is a significant increase over the 23% reported by the DPH just 5 years ago.
Also as reported by the Massachusett Health Council's Trends report, driven by the obesity epidemic, type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly common among children and
teenagers. In Boston alone, 15% of all diabetic children have type 2 diabetes, 5 times the prevailing rate of 10 years ago.
The time to prevent obesity is childhood, and schools are excellent place to start. "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition"
(H. 4376), sponsored by Representative Peter Koutoujian, requires healthy standards for drinks and snacks sold in public
schools. The bill has been approved by two legislative committees, Public Health and Health Care Financing, and is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee.Obesity Fact Sheet Summary: CLICK HERE Monday, October 20, 2008
Massachusetts Health Council Award Dinner
Grand Ballroom
Newton Marriott Hotel
Senate President Therese Murray and Senator Richard Moore were present as we honored Deborah Enos,
President and CEO, Neighborhood Health Plan and Marva Serotkin, President, The Boston Home, both of whom have made profound contributions to the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Their dedication
and concern for the health and well-being of all our residents has been well noted. Peter Meade, Managing Director of Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications, served as Master of Ceremonies. Speakers included
James Hooley, Health Care Consultant, and Ned Morse, President & CEO of MA Extended Care Federation.
View Photos
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Massachusetts Health Council's Annual Meeting & Skills Training ...
Utilizing Web and Internet Technology to Maximize Communication: How the
heck do you conduct Podcasts, Webinars, and more?
Marriott Copley Place
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Monday, April 7, 2008
The Massachusetts Health Council presents ...
A Health Care Forum: Models That Succeed in Lowering Health Care Costs and Improving Quality
Westin-Waltham Hotel
70 Third Street
Waltham, MA
View Photos
Practical Solutions to Meet the Challenges and Opportunities of Effective Healthcare Delivery
Ronald A. Paulus, MD
Eliminating Infections
Christine Goeschel, RN, MPA, MPS
Achieving Strategic Results
Pete Knox
Mass. Health Care Quality & Cost Council
Katharine London
The Clinical Transformation of Ascension Health
David B. Pryor, MD
The Road to Affordability
Meredith B. Rosenthal, PhD
Aiming High: Toward a High Performance, Value-Based Health System
Cathy Schloen
MA Health Reform Turns Two on April 12, 2008
On April 12th, Massachusetts health reform reached its second anniversary. While we continue working on implementation challenges, we recognize major accomplishments to date:
- More than 300,000 people have found coverage.
- 176,000 are enrolled in Commonwealth Care.
- MassHealth has expanded by 90,000.
- Private health insurance enrollment has grown by 111,000, according to the MA Assn. of Health Plans -- 17,000 through Commonwealth Choice.
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Uncompensated care spending dropped 34% since 2006.
Non-group premiums have lowered by as much as 42%, and these premiums purchase better coverage.
The share of employers offering health insurance holds steady at 72%, above the national average.
Public support for health reform continues, at 59% in January 2008.
On March 20, 2008, the Connector Board approved a new Affordability Schedule (to be finalized on April 10, 2008) and co-pay increases.
here
to see the plan. The schedule is open for public comment through 4/7 with a final vote on 4/10.Premiums:
The Connector approved 10% CommCare premium hikes, in line with the affordability schedule. Increases take effect in July. Co-pays: The Connector approved changes to many co-pays important to
consumers. Mental health outpatient co-pays were decreased. Click here for more info.
Questions? Contact Lindsey at Health Care For All for further information about health care reform:
ltucker@hcfama.org 617.275.2904.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Massachusetts Health Council Award Dinner
sponsored by Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Grand Ballroom
Newton Marriott Hotel
Mayor Thomas Menino, Attorney General Martha Coakley and many other dignitaries
were present at the event as we honored Bruce Bullen, Senior Vice President and COO, Harvard Pilgrim HealthCare and Richard Lord, President and CEO, Associated Industries of Massachusetts,
both of whom have made profound contributions to the residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Their dedication and concern for access to health care and access to coverage for all our residents has
been well noted.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Massachusetts Health Council Annual Meeting of the Membership
Public Health Philanthropy: What does the future hold?
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
2007 MA Health Care Summit: Controlling the Rising Costs of Health Care
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Health Care Disparities and Access to Medications
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Release of the 206 MA Health Council Health Status report
"Common Health for the Commonwealth"
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Improving the Health Status of Adolescents
March 2, 2006
The Status of Women's Health
View Event Photos
November 2, 2005
MA Conference for Women Planning Breakfast
April 14, 2005
Creating an Effective Culture of Prevention
for Population Health in the 21st Century
December 15, 2004
Release of Health Status Report: "Common Health for the Commonwealth:
Massachusetts Trends in the Determinants of Health"
September 22, 2004
"HIV/AIDS: Challenges in 2004"
April 15, 2004
"Access To Health Care: A Winning or Losing Battle"
September 17, 2003
"Hepatitis C: Addressing The Epidemic"
May 8, 2003
"The Impact of Asthma on the Health Care System"
September 18, 2002
"Preventing and Controlling Obesity in Massachusetts"
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