Monthly Archives: January 2010

Affordability is the Key

Posted on January 10, 2010 by

As the House and Senate begin their negotiations over a final health reform bill, we want to repeat one of the key lessons of Massachusetts health reform: affordability is critical. HCFA joined with over 30 Massachusetts leaders to send a … Continue reading →

Posted in National Health Reform | Leave a comment

Medical Security Program: Share Your Concerns at Upcoming Information Sessions

Posted on January 8, 2010 by

As we posted in late December, the Medical Security Program is changing, effective January 1. The changes include a tiered provider network and some increased cost-sharing. The Division of Unemployment Assistance is hosting a number of information sessions to help … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 1 Comment

Best News of the Decade: Bloggers Can Get on Late-Nite

Posted on January 8, 2010 by

Our friend, Washington Post health blogger Ezra Klein is on Olbermann and Maddow all the time. But this is the best platform ever. When’s our turn? The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c <td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Humor, National Health Reform | Leave a comment

Public Health Council Meets Next Wednesday

Posted on January 7, 2010 by

DPH’s Public Health Council will be having their first monthly meeting of the New Year on Wednesday, January 13th, starting at 9:00 AM. There are two important items on the docket (pdf). First, Commissioner Auerbach will present this year’s Betsy … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Health | 1 Comment

Senate President: “Payment reform should be at the top of everyone’s agenda.” HCFA agrees.

Posted on January 7, 2010 by

In her remarks on opening yesterday’s new Senate session, Senate President Therese Murray said, “We must continue our efforts to reduce the costs of health care here in the Commonwealth – and payment reform in our health care system should … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare Cost Control | Leave a comment

Another Satisifed Customer (Actually, Another Life Saved)

Posted on January 5, 2010 by

This is from today’s Letters to the Editor in the Springfield Republican (unedited): My letter is in part a response to another letter writer’s advocating for single-payer health care and claiming that, like health reform in Massachusetts, congressional health care-reform … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 1 Comment

Dr. Gawande’s Latest Book: Checklists

Posted on January 5, 2010 by

Dr. Atul Gawande, the renowned writer, surgeon at Brigham and Women’s and teacher at the Harvard School of Public Health, has published a new book focusing on the use of checklists in health care settings to reduce errors and infections … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | 1 Comment

Radio Boston To Cover Academic Detailing

Posted on January 5, 2010 by

This Friday at 1:00 pm, WBUR’s show Radio Boston will host Dr. Jerry Avorn and Dr. Leslie Jackowski in a discussion on academic detailing. Academic detailing is the evidence-based prescription drug outreach and education program that takes information learned through … Continue reading →

Posted in Prescription Drug Reform | Leave a comment

New Children’s Mental Health Blog

Posted on January 4, 2010 by

A new year, and new useful things on the web. Take a minute to check out Lisa Lambert’s new blog: holdonitsnotover.wordpress.com. Lisa is the Executive Director of the Parent-Professional Advocacy League (PAL), a consumer-based group for parents of children with … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Mental Health | Leave a comment

2009 In Review

Posted on January 1, 2010 by

With 2010 dawning, we thought we’d look back over the year and highlight some of our top stories of 2009. While we had only 5 entries in our “health care humor” category (including lots of late-night Comedy Central fake news … Continue reading →

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