| Many people of good will in both political parties are stepping forward with suggestions for improving the Massachusetts Health Care System. Legislation that will be filed on December 1, 2004 will cover other very important reforms that should also be considered as we develop a consensus for major health care reform in Massachusetts. Among the list of issues, that is in no way all inclusive of the needs to address, legislative proposals will be filed to seek to address: |
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- Improving Long Term Care promoting greater opportunities for care in the home, new proposals for financing long term care, and improvement to care delivered in skilled nursing facilities.
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- Reducing Drug Costs promoting safe access to drugs through Canada, programs for bulk purchasing of medications, mandating reduction of drug costs, promoting more thoughtful use of drugs, preventing unethical practices by pharmaceutical companies or providers.
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- Treating and Preventing Obesity promoting healthier school lunches and snacks, promoting requirements for physical education in schools, promoting healthier lifestyles.
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- Improving Oral Health increasing access to dentists for MassHealth clients, requiring fluoridation on a state wide scale, promoting early oral health for newborns and pregnant women.
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- Promoting Patient Safety limiting the hours worked by medical interns and residents, requiring credentialing of certain allied health specialties, expanding disciplinary options for health professionals including treatment of those with mental and physical illness or personality issues, developing performance standards for physicians and other professionals.
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- Strengthening Prevention improving screening for various forms of cancer, promoting restoration of tobacco control programs.
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- Health Emergencies & Bio-terrorism updating public health emergency law to deal with 21st Century public health challenges, creating a biological agent registry.
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- Reducing Transmission of Disease providing for decriminalization of needle possession to promote use of clean needles and encourage addicts to seek treatment.
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- Improving Correctional Health promoting programs is the correctional system to minimize recidivism and transfer of disease to those on the outside.
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- Reducing Health Disparities providing incentives, training, protocols to improve health care access and care for women and minorities.
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- Expanding Consumer Options for Patients modernizing optometric care, promoting collaboration between physicians and pharmacists.
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- Improving Public Health Care Facilities improving the financial support for the public health hospitals and the Soldiers Homes.
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- Improving End of Life Care providing pediatric palliative care options for terminally ill children and expanding hospice opportunities and coverage.
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- Financing the Health Care Safety Net reforming the Uncompensated Care Pool, providing oversight by the State Auditor of safety net programs, improving Medicaid reimbursement rates for all providers, providing health insurance for direct care staff.
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- Improving School Health expanding the access to school nursing services and expanding the number of school-based health centers.
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- Improving Mental Health Services gaining greater access to mental health services for Medicaid recipients, training for best use of medications for adolescents with mental illness, providing adequate resources for behavioral health facilities, creating more acute, and intermediate level adolescent psychiatric facilities.
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