The single payer amendment came to a vote this afternoon during the first day of debate on the Senate health care bill. After a vigorous debate, the Senate voted it down in a roll call with 15 voting yes (including me) and 22 voting no. This was a much stronger showing than had previously been …
Health
costs, coverage, gmos, mental health and substance abuse treatment, policy, public health
The Prevention Conversation
A very positive element in the Senate health care cost control legislation is the creation of a Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund. I strongly support the creation of this fund because it will support cost-effective community-based prevention.
The Single Payer Conversation
During the health care debate, there will be an important conversation on Single Payer health care reform. I do broadly support Single Payer health care and I am cautiously optimistic that the legislation before the Senate will move us in the right direction.
High Level Conflict about Health Care Costs
After over a year of hearings and discussions, the House and Senate have both released global health care cost control bills. The highest level institutions in Boston – government, business, major hospitals and insurers – are all deeply engaged in the conversation about the options.
Senate Health Care Reform Bill
The Senate President’s Office released S. 2660, the Health Care Reform Bill.
Mental Health services losing ground?
Did your office find whether the Kaiser Foundation report on Massachusetts funding of Mental Health was accurate? In that report, Massachusetts was reported as paying significantly less per capita than any New England state, save Rhode Island, for Mental Health Services. The difference was startling. http://statehealthfacts.org/ A recent SAMSHA report stated that 1 in 5 (19.9%) of American adults …