Monthly Archives: October 2008

MassHealth launches statewide fluoride varnish program

Posted on October 30, 2008 by

Primary care providers can now help prevent tooth decay in their MassHealth patients! MassHealth is implementing this new statewide initiative that allows all primary care providers to apply fluoride varnish on children’s teeth. The initiative began on October 1st and … Continue reading →

Posted in Oral Health | 3 Comments

Center for ConnectedHealth Symposium 2008

Posted on October 29, 2008 by

Who Provides, Who Decides, Who Pays: Consumers, Clinicians and Business Models in the Connected Care Era (Or: the Privac-e-Lephant in the Room) For two VERY full days, Harvard Medical School was the site of the Center for ConnectedHealth Symposium, which … Continue reading →

Posted in E-health, MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Harvard Medical Students Rally in Support of Prescription Reform

Posted on October 28, 2008 by

Earlier this month about 40 medical students gathered on the steps of Harvard Medical School to call on the school to adopt a strong universal conflict of interest policy and to urge the state to maintain funding for an evidence-based … Continue reading →

Posted in Prescription Drug Reform | 1 Comment

Employers ♥ Health Reform, and Vice Versa

Posted on October 28, 2008 by

This morning, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation shared results from two recent studies on the role of Massachusetts employers in health reform. Both surveys, one conducted by the Urban Institute and the other by the National Opinion … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 4 Comments

Betsy Lehman Center Annual Symposium Canceled Due to Budget Cuts

Posted on October 27, 2008 by

The annual conference of the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction, originally scheduled to take place on December 2nd, has been canceled due to the $150,000 cut to the Center’s budget. The symposium may be rescheduled … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment

Children’s Mental Health Forum

Posted on October 27, 2008 by

The Children’s Mental Health Campaign co-sponsored a legislative forum with Representative Pam Richardson (D-Framingham) last Friday morning. Several advocacy groups, clinicians, parents and school administrators gathered at Framingham Memorial Building to share their stories and experiences of navigating the state’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Mental Health | Leave a comment

Connector Advances at Retreat

Posted on October 26, 2008 by

On Saturday, the Connector held its third annual Board retreat.  The full board attended the Andover session, along with about ten Connector staff, a couple of ANF staff, two insurance plan representatives, and me (Lindsey Tucker -ed.).  This year’s retreat … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 1 Comment

Real Voices: Your Weekly Dose from the HCFA Helpline

Posted on October 24, 2008 by

Every week we highlight the voices of real people that contact our Helpline every day. Once a week you will be introduced to a family whose life has changed for the better due to health reform. If you or anyone … Continue reading →

Posted in Helpline, MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Inevitable: Health Care and Taxes

Posted on October 24, 2008 by

Tax season is coming! This week, the Department of Revenue released its draft 2008 Schedule HC and accompanying instructions. The schedule is the tax form Massachusetts tax-filers have to fill out, demonstrating they had or did not have health coverage … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 2 Comments

Once Again, Coverage Doesn’t Always Guarantee Access to Care

Posted on October 24, 2008 by

Yesterday’s Boston Globe included a front page story on the problems of underinsurance. Underinsurance is a glass half-full/half empty story. It’s a real problem, but we’re making progress. The Globe cited results of an unreleased Globe-Blue Cross Blue Shield of … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | 2 Comments