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| CAPE COD TIMES EDITORIAL February 23, 2004 |
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Declining health care: Massachusetts legislators must take lead in strengthening safety net A year-long study of government-funded health care in the United States has found "first-rate medicine and a third-rate (delivery) system." Conducted by Governing magazine with support from The Pew Charitable Trusts, the study focused on six major areas of health care funded by state dollars: mental health, public health, long-term care, children's care, prescription drugs and the growing number of uninsured. "Across the board, the study found improvements in modern medicine, but a decline in access to it for needy populations that depend on the safety net of public health programs," according to Stateline.org, an Internet news service. "Clearly, there is a health care crisis in America, but it is in no way a medical crisis. It is a fiscal crisis," according to the study. Richard Greene, one of the study's three authors, said Medicaid is at the heart of problem. The state-federal health insurance program for nearly 50 million poor and disabled Americans is the second biggest item in state budgets and accounts for 20 percent of state spending. States recently faced their biggest budget shortfalls in decades even as health care costs have soared. The study found that all 50 states over the past two years have taken steps to control Medicaid costs by reducing or freezing Medicaid provider payments, cutting benefits such as vision or dental care or restricting the prescription drugs Medicaid patients can receive. Greene said the cuts might make short-term financial sense but don't make long-term public health sense. According to the study, the number of uninsured in the United States has swelled to more than 44 million. Because of these troubling trends, the Massachusetts Legislature should support Senate Bill 2145, "An Act for a Caring Commonwealth." Drafted by Sen. Richard Moore, chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care, the proposed legislation sets forth three objectives: that there be a health care policy for the commonwealth; that it be based on clearly defined operational goals; and that a mechanism be established to include all major stakeholders to oversee the implementation of the policy. The bill further outlines 10 specific goals: patient-centered care; prevention and management; health care for all; strengthening the public health system; preparedness for health emergencies; resource stability; strengthening supporting caregivers; the vital role of health care in the Massachusetts economy; aging with dignity; and compassionate end of life. The Massachusetts Medical Society, with more than 18,000 physicians and student members, supports the bill. And so should you. (Published: February 23, 2004) Copyright © Cape Cod Times. All rights reserved. |
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