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| State Representatives Christine E. Canavan & Michael Brady |
Tonight's forum was hosted by Brian Rossman, Research Director for Health Care for all and Amy Whitcomb Slemmer the Executive Director. The invited guest were the public and State Representative's Christine E. Canavan and Micheal Brady.
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| State Representative's Christine E. Canavan & Michael Brady |
The Better Care campaign is just one of many that Health Care for all has sponsored. This is the latest campaign and opens dialogue with the public and our legislators who represent us and help make our laws and policies regarding health care reform. Have you ever had an insurance claim denied or is your care affordable. The public could of had their voice heard at this community forum focused on achieving better care.
The Better Care campaign is aimed at health care payment reform and the health care delivery system. Shifting incentives to promote accessible, coordinated, patient-centered care that focuses on health and disease prevention. Payment methods should simplify the process of individuals, promote primary and preventative care, encourage collaboration among providers and between providers and consumers, and include accountability for patient health.
As the meeting began Both Representative's had opening statements in particular interesting because of her nursing background was Representative Canavan and one of her statements that " the people who design the system and hospitals really need to ask the nurse's and the people that actually work in the field." She spoke for about 10 minutes and then Representative Brady spoke and gave his perspective on the health care reform and included in his talk was how his own doctor changed one of his medications because it was too costly because his health care plan changed his deductible on that medication.
After they spoke one of the members of the Massachusetts Campaign for Better Care, Commonwealth Care Alliance spoke about their pilot program that takes people on Medicare and Masshealth and get a set fee depending on their health status and provides care for them. They provide a team approach were they are involved in the patients life. They do a home visit and also provide a Case Manager for each of their clients. They are a non-profit group and have contracts with clinics and hospitals and provide full care along with drug prescription. The big difference with them and other insurance companies is that they are actively involved with every aspect of patient care, even when the patient in not in the hospital or sick.
They are like social workers who check in on their members and treat each member as their needs arise and even before they arise. One member they got a fire extinguisher for, who was having anxiety about this and helped to relieve this clients anxiety for less than $25.00. They are hands on and involved with their members. This approach has been successful and has about 3000 members in Massachusetts right now.
Several members in the Audience asked questions including City Councilor at Large Jass Stewart who was in attendance. The evening brought together members of the community, State Representatives and Professionals who are involved in moving forward with health care reform. Below are the links for the websites to Health Care for all and Commonwealth Care Alliance.
Health Care for all
Commonwealth Care Alliance
