Monthly Archives: March 2008

Sam Allis, the Labyrinth, and Our Health Care “Pottersville”

Posted on March 30, 2008 by

In today’s Globe (“Lost in the Labyrinth“), columnist Sam Allis explores “the labyrinth called Chapter 58″ and gets a “case of the vapors.” From all appearances, seems like he talked with Codman Square ED Bill Walczak and no one else. … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 14 Comments

The “Urge for Going” Is Spreading

Posted on March 29, 2008 by

Leadership changes are in the wind these days. Two recent announcements of note: Ali Noorani, the dynamic executive director of the MA Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition since November 2003, is moving to new challenges in Washington DC. Ali helped … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform, Public Health | Leave a comment

US HHS Sect. Leavitt Visits Boston, Talks Waiver “Refinements”

Posted on March 27, 2008 by

State House News Service report on a visit to Boston today by US Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, who has final sign-off authority of renewal of Massachusetts Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver, the essential financing source for MA Health … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 1 Comment

Kudos to Commonwealth Care Alliance

Posted on March 27, 2008 by

Yesterday’s Globe included an editorial (“Managing Care the Right Way“) giving well deserved praise to Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA) — NO relation at all to Commonwealth Care, health reform’s subsidized insurance program: MANAGED CARE got a bad reputation in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality, MassHealth/Medicaid | Leave a comment

These Days, Health Reform Talk Isn’t Cheap, II

Posted on March 26, 2008 by

Closing in on health reform’s two year anniversary, some things are worth remembering. Many observers saw that the financing plan to sustain Chapter 58 over the medium and long haul was deficient. We saw it, and commented that the time … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

These Days, Health Reform Talk Isn’t Cheap, I

Posted on March 26, 2008 by

No big decisions or developments in the past 24 hours on MA health reform. But a lot of comments and attention — all focussed on the state’s growing financial pressures in paying for health reform in general and Commonwealth Care … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

“Confessions of a Former Drug Rep”

Posted on March 26, 2008 by

Shahram Ahari, former Eli Lilly drug “detailer,” shared the tricks of the trade on NECN this week (two parts): Shahram, who now travels the country testifying to legislatures considering measures to regulate pharmaceutical marketing and speaking to doctors and medical … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market | 3 Comments

Fed/State Use of Contract Workers Adds to Uninsured

Posted on March 25, 2008 by

Today’s Wall Street Journal discusses the federal government’s own contribution to the problem of the uninsured through it’s use of contract employees who do not receive health benefits even when they function as pseudo-full time workers: Covering the uninsured is … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform, US health policy | 7 Comments

HCFA’s Fifth Policy & Organizing Conference This Friday!

Posted on March 24, 2008 by

HCFA’s 5th Annual Policy and Organizing Conference will be held this Friday! The day will be packed with informative and interesting events, including a keynote address from A&F Secretary (and Connector Board Chair) Leslie Kirwan on cost control, a Community … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Health, Children's Mental Health, E-health, HCFA, Health Care Quality, Health Disparities, Healthcare Cost Control, Helpline, MA Health Reform, Oral Health, Prescription Drug Reform | Leave a comment

Primer on One of the Next Big Things — Preventable Hospital Readmissions

Posted on March 23, 2008 by

Check out this great Commonwealth Fund series of articles on preventable hospital readmissions. Right on the heels of conversations about hospital acquired infections (or “healthcare associated infections” as others like to call them), one of the next big quality/cost conversations, … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Market, Health Care Quality | Leave a comment