Reorganization of Legislature's Health Committees
By Ad Hoc CDHC Intern Emma Libby and Ann Eldridge Malone
In February the Massachusetts Legislature underwent a major reorganization
where committees have been eliminated, merged or divided all with the
purpose of supporting committee members' focus and productivity. The joint
committees related to health care issues have all been redesigned and
newly distributed. This is the first committee reshuffling that has taken
place in thirty years.
The new House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, who replaced former Speaker
Thomas Finneran, and Senate President Robert Travaglini have also assigned
new chairs to almost all the new committees. The Legislative committee
prior total, once numbering 39, is now 37, and issues once belonging to
one committee have fallen under the preview of another.
The joint committees related to health care issues have all been redesigned
and newly distributed. Two brand new health committees have been created:
The Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, chaired
by Senator Steven Tolman, representing the Second Suffolk and Middlesex
district, and Representative Ruth Balser of the Thirteenth Middlesex,
as well as the Joint Committee on Public Health, chaired by Senator
Susan Fargo, representing the Third Middlesex district, and Representative
Peter Koutoujian of Tenth Middlesex.
The Joint Committee on Health Care has been changed to Health Care
Financing, chaired by Senator Richard Moore, representing Worcester
and Norfolk district and Representative Patricia Walrath of Third Middlesex,
and finally the Joint Committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs
has been divided into three committees: Children and Families, Elder Affairs,
and Veterans and Federal Affairs, chaired by Senator Spilka and Representative
Owens-Hicks, Senator Tucker and Representative Correia, and Senator Brewer
and Representative Verga.
The duties of the new committees have been modified to better fit the
current health care scene in Massachusetts. In some cases the committees
are now more focused on specific groups in need of more attention such
as children, the elderly, and persons who are homeless. The Joint Committee
on Mental Health and Substance Abuse is now focusing on so-called behavioral
health (mental health care), drug detoxification and homeless mentally
ill as well as oversights of the Department of Mental Health.
The new Joint Committee on Children and Families is now in charge
of legislation regarding the mental and physical health of children as
well as nutrition and homelessness and homeless shelters that serve families..
The Joint Committee on Elder Affairs is now assigned responsibility for
laws and policy regarding prescription drugs for elders, other elder pharmacy
issues, handicapped elders, and nursing care facilities.
Other committees have had their focus expanded. Former committees have
been fused together in order to create an all encompassing committee.
It will now be the duty of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
to review legislation and make decisions regarding Medicaid, MassHealth,
and the Uncompensated Care Pool. Formerly there was an entire house
committee devoted to Medicaid alone. The Joint Committee on Public Health
is now assigned all aspects of public health in Massachusetts.
Reorganization of these legislative committees was certainly needed to
keep up with the changing health care scene in the Commonwealth. We hope
that the narrower focus of many new committees will be beneficial to those
in need of public policy changes including the need for comprehensive,
affordable health care coverage and access to quality care for all.
Health Committee Members listings and direct links:
Joint
Committee on Health Care Financing
Joint
Committee on Mental Health & Substance Abuse
Joint
Committee on Public Health
State Legislature
Home Page for other committees and current legislation
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