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As many of you may recall--and indeed were vibrant participants in--The Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care formed in 1997. At that time, health care professionals felt increasingly under siege by market-driven forces which compromised patient-centered care. We joined together across disciplines and sounded the alarm for fundamental health care reforms. Our Call To Action insisted that the needs of the patient remain paramount in health care delivery and policy reforms. We continue to use our "Principles of Health Care Delivery and Practice" document, created jointly many years ago by health professionals from myriad disciplines, to evaluate health reform proposals and guide our education and advocacy efforts. We invite you to revisit this founding document as you learn about, evaluate, and participate in health reform in our state. Thank you for continuing to be a vital part of this important work; your donations are needed to fuel our efforts during this exciting time for health reform in Massachusetts. Ann Eldridge Malone, RN, MSN, Director
Four plans to expand health insurance coverage in Massachusetts As you may have heard about in the news, four different plans are being proposed to expand health insurance coverage in Massachusetts. What you may not appreciate are the significant differences among these plans and how they each measure up to the goals of universal coverage, responsible stewardship of resources, and quality care for all... Read More >
Constitutional Amendment update - New poll results Nearly 83 percent of 400 Massachusetts residents polled earlier this month agreed with the statement that every Massachusetts resident should be able to get the same high quality coverage for medically necessary health and mental health care regardless of their ability to pay, proponents of a constitutional amendment announced in a letter delivered to lawmakers... Read More >
Reorganization of Legislature's health committees In February 2005 the Massachusetts Legislature underwent a major reorganization for the first time in thirty years. 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. Read More >
RN-to-Patient
Staffing Bill reintroduced: The Coalition to Protect Massachusetts Patients has re-filed legislation to establish minimum, flexible staffing standards for all acute-care hospital settings in the Commonwealth. This bill has been assigned to the newly created Joint Committee on Public Health. The Coalition now unites the Massachusetts Nurses Association with over 90 other advocacy organizations. With 106 (out of 200) state legislators on board, House Bill No. 2663 stands an excellent chance of passing this session if sufficient grassroots pressure is continuously applied to move it through the system. Read More >
Summer reading for health reform advocates New books provide health care policy insights:
Other health reform news
& resources Massachusetts
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Thank You for Being a Vital Part of Our Work! Your donations are needed to fuel our efforts during this exciting time for health reform in Massachusetts. Sincerely and in health, Ann Eldridge Malone, RN, MSN, Director The Ad Hoc Committee to Defend Health Care Phone: 617-542-3305
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