Monthly Archives: November 2008

Health Reform and the Primary Care Shortage Meme

Posted on November 30, 2008 by

Driving home Sunday night stuck in the Pike traffic I heard this NPR story, Mass. Health Care Reform Reveals Doctor Shortage. It pushed a button in me, something that has been brewing for months. Am I overreacting, or is this … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 6 Comments

Key Indicators: Coverage Increase Continues

Posted on November 26, 2008 by

This afternoon, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy released their latest installment of their quarterly report. Click here for the full report, Health Care in Massachusetts: Key Indicators. Much of this information is the same as the August … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Shouldn’t There Be A Better Way To Get Kids Covered?

Posted on November 26, 2008 by

Families USA, a national health care advocacy group, has released a good news-bad news report. (Read article on boston.com) The good news is that the number of uninsured children has declined by about 6 percent last year. Nationally, about one … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Health, US health policy | 1 Comment

Final Tax Form Broadens Permissable Lapse in Coverage

Posted on November 25, 2008 by

Yesterday, the Department of Revenue (DOR) posted the revised and final Schedule HC for 2008. This is the form used to report one’s health insurance coverage to monitor compliance with the individual health insurance mandate. Revised draft Instructions will be … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Real Voices: Your Weekly Dose from the HCFA Helpline

Posted on November 23, 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 | 2 Comments

Health Leaders Excited About National Health Care Reform

Posted on November 21, 2008 by

On Thursday afternoon, the New England Alliance for Children’s Health (NEACH), the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and PricewaterhouseCoopers hosted a national broadcast of a town hall meeting with a panel of Congressional leaders, health care policy experts and a … Continue reading →

Posted in US health policy | 2 Comments

Globe: Protect Safety Net

Posted on November 21, 2008 by

Today’s Globe editorial (“Unkindest cuts in healthcare“) shines a light on the disproportionate cuts being imposed on safety net hospitals, particularly Boston Medical Center and Cambridge Health Alliance. These hospitals and their health centers are the backbone of our health … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Happy Two Year Anniversary Consumer Health Quality Council!

Posted on November 21, 2008 by

This week, the Consumer Health Quality Council celebrated its two year anniversary! Since its inception, the Council has brought a powerful consumer voice to policy discussions on health care quality. The Council, which consists of a diverse group of people … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment

Two Videos: Why We Will Have National Reform

Posted on November 20, 2008 by

A Kos post has all the links on national reform from the past few days, the latest news from Kaiser is here, and the Wall Street Journal explained why health reform 2009 will not be like 1993 (“A wide variety … Continue reading →

Posted in US health policy | Leave a comment

Quality and Cost Website to Launch in Early December

Posted on November 19, 2008 by

The Quality and Cost Council today gave its approval for the launch of its website with health care quality and cost information. The site will be publicly launched during an event at the State House sometime between December 1 and … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality, Healthcare Cost Control | Leave a comment