Monthly Archives: October 2011

The Herald’s Flip Flop

Posted on October 20, 2011 by HCFA

It’s amusing to read a Herald columnist fulminate about a state agency showing flexibility and respectfully treating people as individuals. It’s even more amusing to recall the Herald’s editorial position on the individual mandate. Before the mandate became part of … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform, National Health Reform | Leave a comment

Health Quality Events: QCC Wednesday; MITSS Dinner Nov. 1

Posted on October 17, 2011 by HCFA

Quality and Cost Council Meeting Wednesday The Health Care Quality and Cost Council is holding its monthly meeting this Wednesday, October 19, 1:00-3:00pm. Note the change from the usual location-the meeting is at the Division of Health Care Finance and … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment

Mayor Menino on Payment Reform: More Primary Care, Invest in Prevention and Protect Vulnerable.

Posted on October 17, 2011 by HCFA

Boston Mayor Tom Menino jumped into the payment reform this week, devoting his weekly column to the topic. The Mayor echos many of the policy concerns raised by the Campaign For Better Care, GBIO and HCFA, hitting 3 critical points: … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare Cost Control | Leave a comment

More Stories of Closed Enrollment Crazyness

Posted on October 13, 2011 by HCFA

HCFA received many inquiries from last month’s original open enrollment blog post. We were right – a lot of education on the state’s closed enrollment situation needs to happen, not only for consumers, but also to all players in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Private Market | Leave a comment

News Flash: ACA Modeled on Chapter 58!! (Video Update)

Posted on October 11, 2011 by HCFA

We’ve always known, and been mighty proud, of the role Massachusetts health reform played in providing a test bed for national reform. As the RomneyCare/ObamaCare political wars heat up (see post below), NBC investigative reporter Michael Isikoff pulled White House … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform, National Health Reform | 1 Comment

MA Health Reform Frightful In Rick Perry Campaign Ad

Posted on October 11, 2011 by HCFA

We really like Gawker’s take on the new Rick Perry ObamaCare/RomneyCare spot: Rick Perry Documents the Horror of Giving People Medical Care Rick Perry … has released his latest, scariest opus, just in time for Satan’s birthday, Halloween. It goes … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Humor, Health Care Politics, MA Health Reform | 1 Comment

HCFA Says No To Medicaid Cuts in Springfield Republican

Posted on October 11, 2011 by HCFA

Sunday’s Springfield Republican included an op-ed by HCFA Executive Director Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, calling on Washington’s deficit reduction “Super Committee” to reject cuts in Medicaid and other health programs for the vulnerable. Springfield’s Congressman Richard Neal is a senior member … Continue reading →

Posted in MassHealth/Medicaid, National Health Reform | 1 Comment

SJC To Hear Immigrant Coverage Arguments Tomorrow

Posted on October 5, 2011 by HCFA

Oral arguments are scheduled for tomorrow morning (Thursday, Oct. 6) in Health Law Advocate’s class action lawsuit, Finch et al v. Connector Authority, on behalf of more than 40,000 legal immigrants barred from joining the Commonwealth Care program. The case … Continue reading →

Posted in MA Health Reform | Leave a comment

Administration on Premium Freeze: “But if we expect that we’re going to start with a base of zero, then we’re going to do a lot better.”

Posted on October 5, 2011 by HCFA

Last Friday, health insurers in Massachusetts filed their proposed rates for January 2012. The Division of Insurance now begins a period of detailed analysis of the actuarial data, probing the filings to ensure that rates are reasonable and supported by … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare Cost Control | Leave a comment

Progress Report: One Year of Patient/Family Advisory Councils in all MA Hospitals

Posted on October 4, 2011 by HCFA

October 1 marked one year since date when all MA hospitals were required to establish Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs). The Consumer Health Quality Council (www.hcfama.org/consumercouncil) advocated for the law mandating PFACs and has been closely following implementation. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care Quality | Leave a comment