Monthly Archives: September 2007

What Is the “Partnership for Healthcare Excellence?”

Posted on September 19, 2007 by

Good question. Liz Kowalczyk gives the first look in today’s White Coat Notes/Boston Globe medical blog: A new organization funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts is planning a multi-year patient safety initiative directed at consumers. The Partnership … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | 2 Comments

Hillary’s Health Plan

Posted on September 18, 2007 by

So it’s out, Hillary Clinton’s plan to expand access to health insurance to cover nearly everyone. Key parts: 1. Require all residents to obtain health insurance; 2. Require large employers to contribute toward the cost of health insurance for employees … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Politics, US health policy | 6 Comments

Woolhandler & Himmelstein in Today’s Globe — We Respond

Posted on September 17, 2007 by

For a long time, it strikes me we have a comic book conversation about the Canadian “single payer” health care system – actually dual comic book conversations. One comic book is titled “The Canadian health system is heaven.” The other … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 5 Comments

Mrs. Clinton’s Emerging Health Plan — Looks like Edwards’ and MA’s

Posted on September 15, 2007 by

Today’s Wall Street Journal (click here) gives the first look we’ve seen at Hilary Clinton’s health coverage plan to be fully unveiled on Monday. Individual mandate, lower income subsidies, assessments on non-offering companies — looks a lot like candidate John … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Politics, US health policy | 7 Comments

Morsels from HCFA’s HelpLine — Vegetarians Welcome, Too

Posted on September 14, 2007 by

Want to know what we like BEST about Massachusetts health reform? It’s the real people we help every day. Through HCFA’s fantastic HelpLine. We ask every person we sign up for comments. Here are three from this past week: “Thank … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Quality Bill Hearing — Consumers Take Center Stage

Posted on September 13, 2007 by

H.2226, S.1277, the healthcare quality bill HCFA and our Consumer Health Quality Council support, had its hearing yesterday before the Legislature’s Public Health Committee. It was a long day of hearings, and our Council members, determined to have their voices … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment

Back-to-School Tidal Wave Reaches Feeding Hills and Blandford!

Posted on September 12, 2007 by

This past Friday, 1,754 large manila envelopes left 30 Winter Street and worked their way through the postal system, arriving in the hands of all 1,364 school nurses and 391 school superintendents in Massachusetts. Each packet contained information on children’s … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Harvard Pilgrim to the Rescue — in Maine

Posted on September 11, 2007 by

Portland Press Herald reports (click here) that Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is taking over stewardship of Maine’s DirigoChoice insurance program which provides subsidized insurance coverage now to about 14,000 state residents. HPHC will take over the program from Anthem, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market, States | 2 Comments

Why Are Health Premiums Increasing at a Higher Rate in MA than in the Rest of the Nation? A Question, Not an Answer…

Posted on September 11, 2007 by

Every September, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET) publish a survey of employer sponsored health benefits. (Click here.) So this year’s just came out today. And every year, there’s the “money chart” showing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market | 3 Comments

ACT!! Legislative Briefing Report

Posted on September 10, 2007 by

Over 80 staffers, senators, and representatives attended today’s legislative briefing hosted by the ACT!! Coalition at the State House. The briefing was hosted by the chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Representative Patricia Walrath and Senator Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 3 Comments