Press Releases

08/08/2008

Prescription Project, Massachusetts Prescription Reform Coalition on Governor to Sign Qualtiy and Cost Control Bill

BOSTON - The Massachusetts Prescription Reform Coalition today called on Governor Patrick to prioritize enhancing transparency of health care costs and quality for Massachusetts consumers by signing legislation that requires the public reporting of hospital-acquired infections and serious reportable events, creation of rapid response methods and patient-family councils at hospitals.
 
"We applaud Senate President Murray and Speaker DiMasi for recognizing that improving quality is the next step in Massachusetts health reform success" said Consumer Council President Lucilia Prates.  "We hope the Administration continues its commitment to health care transparency, quality improvement and cost containment."
 
The Consumer Council was pleased to see that S. 2863 includes four priority provisions including:

· Public reporting of healthcare-associated infections;
· Public reporting of, and nonpayment for, serious reportable events;
· Establishment of Patient and Family Councils in hospitals;
· Establishment of rapid response methods in hospitals.

"The requirement of hospitals to establish and convene patient and family councils and rapid response methods are two specific changes Massachusetts can take to help create a consumer voice in the healthcare delivery system," Fawn Phelps, interim Executive Director at Health Care For All said. "We applaud the Legislature and the Commonwealth for being a leader in protecting Massachusetts consumers and realizing that quality control is the best form of cost control".

S. 2863 also includes language that prohibits reimbursement to hospitals for costs associated with serious reportable events.  These are events that should never happen. The Consumer Council supports legislation that prevents health care facilities from receiving reimbursement from insurers or consumers for such events. Massachusetts, as a health care insurer and payer, is already moving to prohibit payment for serious reportable events.

About Massachusetts Prescription Reform Coalition

The Massachusetts Prescription Reform Coalition is a diverse group of
community organizations, local and national non-profit organizations,
healthcare advocates, private insurers, and healthcare providers dedicated to
making affordable prescription drugs available to everyone. The Coalition is
committed to promoting evidence-based, unbiased prescribing. For more
information visit www.hcfama.org/MPRC.