As a doctor, a patient, policy-maker and administrator of the state’s health care programs, Dr. JudyAnn Bigby is in one of the best positions to comment on why national health reform will be good for Massachusetts. So don’t just take our word for it – listen to hers.
In an op/ed in yesterday’s Standard-Times, the Secretary outlines the many reasons national health reform will benefit the Commonwealth.
She begins by reminding readers of the Governor’s consistent prioritization of health reform and, in particular, the affordability of health care for families and businesses. She stresses that our health reform has been a success – and that it will be stronger when national health care reform passes. Our families, seniors, businesses, state budget, and industries will benefit:
Federal health reform will allow us to build on the Commonwealth’s excellence in health care innovation. Both the Senate and House bills include grant opportunities for states to enhance adult protective services, reduce chronic disease, address health disparities, improve evidence-based disease prevention, develop early childhood visitation programs, and expand outreach and education for some Medicare beneficiaries. Federal health reform will also bolster the Commonwealth’s ongoing efforts to reform the health care payment system. This kind of innovation is critical to lowering health care costs.
Federal health care reform supports Massachusetts’ strong health care and academic industries. Massachusetts is home to some of the nation’s finest medical schools, hospitals, research labs and biotechnology firms. Federal reform will create a host of new federally funded grant opportunities that will further support our medical schools, hospitals and educational institutions. Grants for training the health care and public health workforces, graduate medical education, education and training in family medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, mental and behavioral health and nursing will help to support two of Massachusetts’ greatest local industries: health care and medical education.
While federal reform will not solve all of our challenges, Massachusetts stands to benefit from it. If enacted, Massachusetts would be in a better position to address some of the remaining health care challenges related to access, quality and costs, and it would provide a platform for the state to continue to implement innovative solutions to one of the biggest problems facing people, employers, and local and state government.
It’s worth taking a look.
-Lindsey Tucker
