Monthly Archives: July 2007

Have You Experienced Delays in MassHealth or Commonwealth Care Eligibility Processing?

Posted on July 31, 2007 by

MassHealth and Commonwealth Care have together enrolled some 135,000 new members since last June. MassHealth and all of health reform’s supporters can be proud of this remarkable achievement. This fast ramp-up has undoubtedly put a strain on the enrollment infrastructure … Continue reading →

Posted in MassHealth/Medicaid | 2 Comments

Barbara Leadholm Appointed Mental Health Commissioner

Posted on July 30, 2007 by

Another solid appointment to the Health and Human Services team was announced today: Barbara Leadholm as the new Commissioner of Mental Health. Here’s the announcement: Ms. Leadholm has a broad and thorough understanding of the mental health system and consumers’ … Continue reading →

Posted in MassHealth/Medicaid | Leave a comment

Tom Dehner Named Permanent Medicaid Director

Posted on July 30, 2007 by

Tom Dehner, who has served as acting Medicaid Director since Beth Waldman’s departure in January, has been named by HHS Secretary Judy Ann Bigby as the permanent director. Tom has been a great friend to the health care access and … Continue reading →

Posted in MassHealth/Medicaid | 2 Comments

Are Physicians Paid Too Much?

Posted on July 29, 2007 by

That’s the provocative question posed in and article in today’s NYTimes Week In Review section — click here. How to fix the health care system? Easy, liberals say. If Washington would just force cuts in prescription drug prices and insurance … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market | 67 Comments

Metrowest Daily News Shines a Light on Quality

Posted on July 28, 2007 by

Metrowest Daily News has been paying attention to the quality legislation formulated by HCFA’s Consumer Quality Council and filed by Sen. Dick Moore and Rep. Denise Provost. Click here for their recent editorial: It may be understandable that hospitals and … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment

Notes from the National Disparities Conference in SC

Posted on July 28, 2007 by

Over three days last week, Charleston, South Carolina hosted hundreds of health care providers, researchers, and advocates for the National Conference on Health Disparities. The city deeply rooted in a history of slave trade and Jim Crow provided a complex … Continue reading →

Posted in Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities | Leave a comment

We Talk about Health Care Cost Control

Posted on July 26, 2007 by

John McDonough is the guest blogger on WBUR’s Commonhealth blog. We talk about health care cost control — or the lack thereof…click here to see the post and comments.

Posted in Health Care Market | Leave a comment

New Report on Employers and MA Health Reform

Posted on July 26, 2007 by

The Center for Studying Health System Change has produced a policy brief looking at MA implementation of Chapter 58 — click here. Center researchers interviewed about 25 MA folks in the spring. A balanced, thoughtful look at implementation process and … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 2 Comments

Individual Mandate – Right On Schedule

Posted on July 25, 2007 by

The Department of Revenue has released its draft Schedule HC (HC for Health Care), the tax form people will use to indicate compliance with the health insurance individual mandate. DOR is asking for comments on the draft. You care read … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

YAP Gap

Posted on July 25, 2007 by

Despite strong consumer and physician outcry, DOI finalizes the Young Adults Plan regulations with no changes The Division of Insurance finalized its Young Adults Plan (YAP) regulations this week. The YAP regulations were promulgated as emergency regulations in April and … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market, MA Health Reform | 1 Comment