Monthly Archives: March 2011

Would Increased MassHealth Co-pays Reduce Costs? Evidence Says No.

Posted on March 31, 2011 by

Increasing copays and deductibles is usually the first choice when employers or public health programs look for ways to cut health care costs. MassHealth, for example, plans to increase prescription drug copays for low income people. But a comprehensive survey … Continue reading →

Posted in MassHealth/Medicaid | Leave a comment

Legislative Prevention Caucus Unveiled

Posted on March 30, 2011 by

Community leaders in public health and prevention, including EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, doctors at the frontlines of providing care, and public health experts, met at the State House this morning to celebrate the launch of the Prevention for Health Caucus, … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Health | 6 Comments

Getting to Better Care: March MDness Edition

Posted on March 28, 2011 by

The state’s payment reform push continues to draw wide interest. The American Medical News talked to Massachusetts physicians, and the Cape Cod Times covered the, Cape angle, with some institutions expressing trepidation, and others looking forward: Institutions such as Cape … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare Cost Control | Leave a comment

FactCheck Fact Checks Romneycare

Posted on March 28, 2011 by

As former Governor’s Romney’s presidential campaign heats up, Massachusetts health reform will again become a beanbag for politicians to kick around to score points. Mike Huckabee’s trashing in his book (“we should take a lesson from RomneyCare, which shows that … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Politics, Health Care Politics, MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Stroller In To Protest Early Intervention Cuts

Posted on March 24, 2011 by

Yesterday members of the Children’s Health Access Coalition went to the State House to join over 300 parents, kids and supporters in a Stroller-In to support Early Intervention and protest the substantial budget cuts that Early Intervention faces in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Children's Health | 1 Comment

Happy Birthday, National Health Reform

Posted on March 21, 2011 by

This week, the federal Affordable Care Act turns one. Groups all over the country will be marking the anniversary with events that celebrate people who already have been helped by the law, and the benefits to come. Stay tuned for … Continue reading →

Posted in National Health Reform | Leave a comment

A “Commonwealth Conversation” about … health databases

Posted on March 18, 2011 by

A productive blog conversation is going on now about something fairly wonky, but fairly important. We’ve blogged before about the state’s “All Payer Claims Database (APCD).” The DHCFP database, which will collect health transactions from every possible source in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality, Private Market | 1 Comment

Laboratory of Democracy Lab Report

Posted on March 17, 2011 by

The Blue Cross Foundation has released a helpful review of the Lessons from the Implementation of Massachusetts Health Reform (PDF). The report draws out eight lessons that are useful for other states as they begin their ACA implementation process. These … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | 2 Comments

Quality and Cost Council Discusses Quality Measures

Posted on March 17, 2011 by

The Health Care Quality and Cost Council met Wednesday with a full agenda (pdf). Administrative Director Jessica Moschella updated the council on the status of the Annual Report, which has been submitted, her presentation to the Rhode Island Senate on … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment

Quality and Cost Council Meets Wednesday

Posted on March 14, 2011 by

The Health Care Quality and Cost Council is holding its monthly meeting on Wednesday, 1-3pm, in the Café Conference Room in the basement level at 1 Ashburton Place (walk through the cafeteria to get to the conference room). Agenda items … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment