Monthly Archives: August 2006

Quality and Cost Council to Meet

Posted on August 14, 2006 by

One of the health reform sideshows — which may be center act in the next legislative session — was the creation of a Quality and Cost Council to identify health system changes with the potential to lower costs and improve … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality, MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

It’s Affordability Week I for Health Reform

Posted on August 14, 2006 by

Lots of activity coming this week on the issue of affordability for MA health reform and potential enrollees with incomes under 300% of the poverty line ($29K for individual, $60K for family of four). Tomorrow, the Insurance Connector is scheduled … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Summer Reading: The Great Influenza

Posted on August 13, 2006 by

If you have not read it, here’s a high recommendations for The Great Influenza by John M. Barry. It’s the story of the deadliest pandemic in history and a lot more. It’s the story of the emergence of modern medicine … Continue reading →

Posted in US health policy | Leave a comment

Prescription Access Litigation Project Scores Win Against “Average Wholesale Prices”

Posted on August 12, 2006 by

Our friends at Community Catalyst’s Prescription Access Litigation Project had a big win this past week on a federal lawsuit attacking the use of “average wholesale prices” by pharmaceutical companies. On August 10, 2006, a settlement agreement for $70 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market, US health policy | Leave a comment

Affordability Committee Needs to Ask for Directions

Posted on August 10, 2006 by

The Connector Board’s Affordability Committee met today at UMass Lowell. Unfortunately the new location was hard to find. Two of the three Committee members got lost along the way and had to ask locals for directions. When the meeting got … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Sen. Moore on the “Fair Share” Assessment

Posted on August 10, 2006 by

RE: Our August 8th post on the dispute over the $295 “fair share employer assessment” and what the Legislature meant by “fair and reasonable.” The August 8th Boston Globe reported that House Health Financing Chair Patricia Walrath sent a letter … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 3 Comments

Trimarco Talks: Tobacco and Tickets

Posted on August 10, 2006 by

On WBUR this morning, reporter Martha Bebinger reported on yesterday’s hearing of the board of the Insurance Connector, and included this section based on an elevator exchange between her and Romney A&F Secretary Thomas Trimarco: “Secretary of Administration and Finance … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 2 Comments

Back-to-School 2006 Campaign Launches

Posted on August 10, 2006 by

Back-to-School, a national outreach initiative in late summer and early fall launches this week to help uninsured families whose children may be eligible for public health insurance. The MA campaign is coordinated by the Covering Kids and Families Initiative at … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform, MassHealth/Medicaid | Leave a comment

Connector Hearing Notes

Posted on August 10, 2006 by

The Connector Board held its first hearing yesterday on of benefits and affordability for Commonwealth Care (aka C-CHIP) recipients. The hearing was a learning experience, educating the Board about the public’s views. Speakers from many backgrounds discussed views on benefits … Continue reading →

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The Connector Connects with the Public

Posted on August 9, 2006 by

About 200 persons came to Gardner Auditorium today to testify to the board of the Insurance Connector on benefits and affordability for about 200,000 uninsured persons with income under 300% of the poverty line who will be eligible for coverage … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 2 Comments