大機構保險商影響力大 麻州醫保費漲勢不停

醫療資訊及分析中心（Center for Health Information and Analysis）昨（二）日公佈一份調查報告，指麻州在努力控制費用上漲有著不同程度的成功，但去年，麻州最大的醫療保險公司和醫療護理供應商，卻使醫療保險開支漲得比通貨膨脹還高。

去年麻州藍十字藍盾保險公司的開支漲了3.65%，有些合伙者醫療護理病人的開支甚至漲了4%。大波士頓都會區的通貨膨脹，卻只有1.4%。總體的醫療護理開支增長了2.3%。

該中心行政主任Aron Boros表示，最大的保險者，最大的供應商是開支持續增長的地方。人們幾乎可以說，沒有夥伴公司，藍十字藍盾公司，就沒有麻州。

夥伴公司和藍十字藍盾公司都稱麻州的計算不準確。

藍十字的發言人表示，該公司的樹木顯示開支增長2.1%，遠比那份報告估計得要溫和，他們的最高優先項目是減少開支，再低開銷的社區環境中，提供更能協調的醫療。

合伙人（Partners）公司發言人Rich Copp表示，開支成長快過他們的2013年預計，但假以時日，該公司將藉由在較低開支社區環境中，而不是在諸如麻省總醫院，布里吉罕婦女醫院等大學術醫院裏提供互相協調的醫療， 來達到縮減開支的結果。合夥人公司正試圖購買波士頓南邊及北邊的社區醫院。他說減緩醫療護理開支的成長趨勢，得長期努力，很難在一年之間衡量效果。

這是麻州第一次計算醫療護理體系的開支，包括私人保險市場，為耆英提供的醫療護理（Medicare），

控制開支的做法是2012年通過的，訂定了醫療護理開支的每年增長目標，設計來配合麻粥的長期經濟成長。2013年時，上限訂為3.6%，儘管根據美國商務部的資料，麻州去年經濟成長緩慢得多，僅1.6%。

該報告顯示麻州有些進步，醫療護理開支的成長幅度比去年小。在2008年經濟衰退以前，醫療護理開銷的成長率為6.5%一年，之後每年約為3.1%。

            麻州個供應商，保險傷去年的表現差異很大。有些刪減了開支，麻州大學紀念醫療護理的醫生們，幫助一些病人減少了1%的開支，Atrius醫療的醫生群們為其他人減少了3%的開支。在保險者之間，聯合醫療護理降幅最大，打19.8%，鄰里醫療計劃（Neighborhood Health Plan）的開支碟了7.9%，Cigna的開支跌了1.4%。

            該報告發現，有幾家供應商超過了麻州政府訂定的上限。和牟利的史都華醫療護理（Steward Health Car）有業務關係的醫生集團讓一些病人的開隻增加了6%，和塔芙茨醫療中心，貝斯以色列醫療中心（Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Cente）有業務關係的醫生們，讓其他的病人群增加了5%>

            雖然他們的漲幅大於合夥人公司，這些供應商的總開支比麻州最昂貴的醫療系統合夥人公司低。

            麻州官員表示，合夥人公司因其規模，意味著對行業的總體影響較大，而更受關注。合夥人公司控制了28%的麻州醫療服務供應商。藍十字藍盾掌握了大約40%的私營醫療保險市場。

波士頓一基金再發1850萬元給馬拉松爆炸案受害者

波士頓一基金（The OneFund Boston）昨（二）日宣佈，再撥款1850萬元給200多名波士頓馬拉松爆炸案受害者，另撥150萬元成立“一基金中心”。

波士頓一基金表示，此舉將使該機構發放現金，支援服務等的金額總數高達8000萬元。

迄今共有來自全美50州，以及世界各地60個國家的20萬名個人，企業及慈善機構捐款。

波士頓一基金將捐出150萬元，在麻省總醫院(MGH)，麻州眼耳及Spaulding復健醫院，成立“一基金中心”，以兩年為期，為爆炸案受害者提供個人化的醫療及支援。

在2013年4月15日發生的波士頓馬拉松爆炸案中，有3人死亡，260多人受傷。數天後，引爆炸彈的塔馬蘭（Tamerlan），佐哈爾（Dzhokhar Tsarnaev_)

兩兄弟，再殺了一名麻省理工學院學生。塔馬蘭在和警方對峙時死亡，焦哈爾目前等待聯邦審訊，可能面對死刑。

            波士頓一基金表示，第二輪發放共分四類，第一類為四名死者的家屬，各可再得十萬元。兩輪發放加起來，這四家人各可得約二百三十萬元。

            四名死者之一是華裔，就讀波士頓大學的中國留學生呂令子。

            第二類為受到嚴重傷害者，包括需要截肢者，約35人，個可獲得15萬元至一百萬元。在第一輪發放中，這些嚴重受害者，住院但不需截肢者各獲得27 萬5千元至94 萬8千元，截斷一肢者，一百一十九萬五千元，截斷兩肢者，二百一十九萬五千元。

            第三類為住院十二晚以上，但不算嚴重受傷者，有6人可獲得七萬五千元。住院十二晚以下者，有37人可各得二萬五千元。

            第四類為接受醫生診治，但不需住院者，有125人個可獲得一萬二千五百元。

            另有十人未參加第一輪發放，但在第二輪發放中辦理申請，被認為符合資格者，獲發放款項。

One Fund Boston Announces Final Cash Gifts to Individuals, and Establishes the One Fund Center to Provide Continued Support and Services
Over $80 million in unprecedented generosity distributed to support those most affected by the Boston Marathon Bombings
For Immediate Release: Press Contact: One Fund Boston September 2, 2014 1-855-617-FUND
Today, the One Fund Boston announced that they are distributing $18,459,327 in cash gifts to over 200 survivors and victim’s families most affected by the tragic events of April 15, 2013. This second cash distribution represents a total of over $80 million in cash gifts, support programs and services distributed from the One Fund Boston. This effort was made possible by the unprecedented donations from more than 200,000 individuals, corporations and charitable foundations across all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Thirty-six members of the One Fund community of survivors generously chose not to participate in the Second Distribution to allow for more resources to be directed to other survivors and to support the services needed for the invisible injuries such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and mental health.
In addition to the cash gifts, the One Fund Boston announced today that it has given $1.5 million to establish the One Fund Center. It will be located at Massachusetts General Hospital with Massachusetts Eye & Ear and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, in collaboration with the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine and drawing on the experience and expertise of the Home Base Program. The Center’s two-year mission is: to provide personalized care and support for those injured in the Marathon bombings and their families, evaluate and address the limitations created by their physical injuries and invisible wounds, and work toward maximizing survivors’ lifetime potential through proven programs and innovative treatments.
In developing the Second Distribution protocol, the One Fund Boston Board of Directors enlisted the assistance of a panel of medical experts to advise them on how to most effectively help the survivor community; hosted two meetings with the One Fund Community to elicit specific input on the draft protocol; and held two weeks of public comment online. The majority of the funds available will be disbursed to those survivors with the most severe physical injuries. Those suffering from extremity injuries that will require a lifetime of care and, in many instances, expensive prosthetics that may not be covered by insurance, were determined to need the most

resources in this final distribution to individuals. In addition to those with extremity injuries, the One Fund will make meaningful cash gifts to everyone who received a gift in the First Distribution who chose to apply for the Second Distribution. For those who did not suffer an extremity injury as defined by the Medical Advisory Panel and outlined in the Second Distribution protocol, the category in which they were considered in the First Distribution protocol was used to help determine the amount they received in the Second Distribution.
Cash gifts are being distributed as follows: Loss of Life; Extremity Injury; Individuals who spent 12 nights or more in the hospital; Individuals who spent fewer than 12 nights in the hospital; and Survivors who received out-patient treatment.
Loss of Life: 4 families who lost loved ones will each receive an additional $100,000
Total One Fund Boston gifts: - $2,295,000 for each family
Extremity Injury: Eligible applicants who are amputees, and those who may still face that very difficult decision in the future, were considered according to the type and severity of the injuries they received. In determining this second cash gift, the following factors were considered:
• Whether they are single or double amputees;
• The location of the amputation (above or below the knee);
• Severe injuries to limbs such that they are considered salvage limbs; • Age of the amputee; and
• Number of surgeries the applicant has undergone since June 15, 2013.
35 Extremity Injury applicants will each receive between approximately $150,000 and $1.095M in the Second Distribution; in the First Distribution, these individuals received between $275,000 and $948,300 (no amputation but hospitalization for severely compromised limb), $1.195M (single amputation), or $2.195M (double amputation)
Range of total One Fund Boston cash gifts: $421,000 – $3,290,700
Individuals who stayed 12 nights or more in the hospital, but did not qualify under the Extremity Injury protocol:
6 individuals will each receive $75,000 in the Second Distribution; in the First Distribution, they received between $480,000 and $948,300 (based on number of nights in hospital)
Range of total One Fund Boston cash gifts: $555,000 – $1,023,300
Individuals who stayed fewer than 12 nights in the hospital:
37 individuals will each receive $25,000 in the Second Distribution; in the First Distribution, they received between $125,000 and $480,000 (based on number of nights in hospital)
Range of total One Fund Boston cash gifts: $150,000 – $505,000

Individuals who saw a physician following the Boston Marathon bombings and received out-patient treatment for injuries sustained in the event:
125 individuals will each receive $12,500 in the Second Distribution; those who applied for the First Distribution received $8,000 in that distribution.
Total One Fund Boston cash gifts: 12,500 – $20,500*
*10 individuals applied and were deemed eligible for the second distribution who were not part of the first distribution 

27年來頭一遭 麻州地鐵在 Somerville 添橘線新站

麻州地鐵（MBTA）橘線昨（二）日在尚莫維爾市（Somerville）添新車站-裝配站(Assembly)。麻州州長派區克（Deval Patrick）與州市官員齊出席，祝賀麻州過去27年來第一個新地鐵站啟用。

這新地鐵站市尚莫維爾市以交通為導線的土地發展計劃，“集會排（Assembly Row）”的重要部分，也是麻州過去27年來的第一個新增加的地鐵站，將為波士頓市和“集會排”提供非常重要的交通連接。

派區克表示，麻州投資進基礎建設，就是為了催化私人發展，振興市區鄰里，帶動整個麻州的成長，發展機會。橘線“集會”站是一個非常實在提醒。

在1987年，包括塔芙茨（Tufts），後灣（Back Bay），麻州大道（Massachusetts Avenue），羅格斯（Ruggles），洛士百利（Roxbury），十字（Crossing），傑克遜廣場（Jackson Square），史東尼溪（Stony Brook），綠街（Green Street），以及森林丘（Forest Hills）等車站在1987年五月四日起用，麻州地鐵橘線南邊部分從華盛頓街高架路線到西南迴廊（Southwest Corridor）這段被拆除後，”集會“站還是麻州地鐵的第一個新車站。

”集會”車站的設計是棟入口有兩層樓高的玻璃大樓，座落在Foley街和G街角落，有樓梯，電梯，電扶梯，把人們帶向穿過G街及進城方向車道的玻璃樓梯。

那橋還連接另一棟兩層樓高，夾在進城，出城軌道間的玻璃樓。乘客在那兒會經過車票站，經由另一個樓梯，電梯，扶梯，降下去到月台階層。這新車站完全符合美國殘障法的規定，估計2030 年時，每日會有4800到5400名乘客進出。

聯邦眾議員卡普阿諾（Mike Capuano）表示，幾乎是十年前，他已開始為這新的橘線地鐵站爭取聯邦經費，如今在一千六百萬元的聯邦稅款補助下，他非常高興來慶祝這新站啟用。

            麻州住宅及經濟發展卿畢樂基（Greg Bialecki)表示，“集會排”這發展計劃將包括2.8百萬平方英 尺的辦公室面積，635,000平方英尺的零售，餐館及娛樂用途空間，還會有1813戶住宅，會有諸如水前公園，開放空間，新的自行車，人行道。

尚莫維爾市長Joseph A. Curtatone表示，這智慧，以交通為導向的土地發展計劃在地鐵站附近進行，不只勾勒出尚莫維爾視野（SomerVision）計劃，更代表了數以成千上萬計的工作機會。

集會廣場（Assembly Square）這地點，原本是要發展成為福特汽車的裝配廠，但在該廠於1958年關閉後，其他工業使用了那個地點，以及鄰近地方，也使得該地區成為市區重建，建造傳統零售商場的地點，後來尚莫維爾市再把它改成“集會排”計劃，由聯邦地產投資信託公司（FRIT）作為主要發展商，促成了14億元的私人企業投資。

新的“集會”車站的總經費為5600萬元，麻州住宅及經濟發展辦公室經由麻州工作補助撥給2500萬元，聯邦經費1600萬元，FRIT及發展商投資1500萬元。

SOMERVILLE – Tuesday, September 2, 2014 –  Governor Deval Patrick today joined state and local officials and Somerville business owners at the opening ceremony of the new Assembly Orange Line MBTA station. Assembly is the first new MBTA station in 27 years and is a key element in the creation of a transit-oriented development at Assembly Row, providing a vital transit link between Assembly Row and Boston.

“We invest in infrastructure to catalyze private development, revitalize urban neighborhoods and bolster growth and opportunity across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Patrick. “The new Assembly Orange Line station is a concrete reminder of what can be achieved through public-private partnership and investment in our communities.”

Assembly is the first new MBTA subway station to be opened since the southern portion of the Orange Line was moved from the Washington Street Elevated Line to the Southwest Corridor in 1987 (Tufts, Back Bay, Massachusetts Avenue, Ruggles, Roxbury Crossing, Jackson Square, Stony Brook, Green Street and Forest Hills all opened on May 4, 1987). The Assembly station design includes a glass two-story entrance building at the corner of Foley and G Streets, with stairs, escalators and elevators leading to a glazed glass bridge crossing G Street and the inbound track. The bridge connects to another glass 2-story building between the inbound and outbound tracks, where transit riders will pass through the fare array and travel down to platform level on another stair, escalator or elevators. The new station has integrated intuitive design and is fully accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The daily projected ridership at the Assembly station is expected to be between 4,800 and 5,400 passengers by 2030.

“When I worked almost ten years ago to secure federal funding for a new Orange Line transit stop, this vibrant center of employment, retail and residential opportunities was very much a work in progress,” said Congressman Mike Capuano. “More than $16 million in federal tax dollars contributed to the construction of this station and I am thrilled to be here today celebrating the grand opening of Somerville’s newest T stop  in the heart of a transformed Assembly Square.”

“A demand for enhanced access to transit, for smart development centered on transportation access and for livable, workable communities has been heard loud and clear by this Administration,” said MassDOT Secretary & CEO Richard A. Davey. “The opening of the new Assembly station today is a direct response to that demand that will provide easy, affordable access to rapid transit in this new neighborhood of Somerville.”

“The first new MBTA station in 27 years is a testament to the key role that access to transportation plays in the growth and redevelopment of our cities and towns,” said MBTA General Manager Dr. Beverly Scott. “Assembly is a modern, fully accessible, environmentally-friendly Orange Line station that will serve this blossoming new neighborhood and the City of Somerville well for years to come.”

The station’s design also includes sustainable and environmentally-friendly elements such as extensive daylighting, storm water retention, and energy-conserving electrical power controls and lighting fixtures. The station features passive solar power design; which allows the building windows, walls, and floors to collect, store, and distribute solar energy in the form of heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer, without using electricity.

“Assembly Row is an excellent example of a well-rounded development project that aligns our jobs, housing and transportation needs to better serve our residents,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Greg Bialecki. “Through these types of collaborative efforts we are making our communities great places to live, work and play.”

The development will include more than 2.8 million square feet of office space, 635,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment uses, and 1,813 homes. It will feature public benefits like a waterfront park, open space, and new bike and pedestrian paths connecting existing neighborhoods with the new development. 

“The opening of the Orange Line Assembly Station is a win not only for Somerville but for the Commonwealth, and I want to especially thank Governor Patrick for his deep commitment to this project and to forward-looking transportation policy overall,” said Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “The smart, transit-oriented development taking place around this T-stop that our community outlined in our SomerVision plan will not only connect more workers and residents to sustainable and healthy transit. It represents tens of thousands of construction and permanent jobs, more than a billion dollars in private investment into our local economy, and a commitment to the infrastructure we need to thrive in a 21st century economy. As we get projects like this moving forward, we get the entire state moving forward.”

The Assembly Square site was initially developed as a Ford Motor assembly plant. After the plant closed in 1958, and other industrial uses there and nearby failed over the next 20 years, the area became an urban renewal site where a traditional retail mall was built. The City of Somerville then transformed the vision for the area into what eventually evolved into what is now “Assembly Row” with Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) as the master developer. The new Orange Line station and other state infrastructure investments have been critical in triggering over $1.4 billion in private investment, and in making this a walkable, transit-oriented development.

“The new T station at Assembly Square is exactly the kind of public transportation investment that we need to continue to make to spur economic growth and provide transit options for residents, visitors and employees to reach commercial centers such as the redeveloped Assembly Row,” said Senator Thomas M. McGee. 

"It's gratifying that our long-held community vision of Assembly Square is becoming reality,” said Representative Denise Provost. “The new Orange Line station will now connect our vibrant new neighborhood and beautiful river with Greater Boston. I'm grateful for the role that MassDOT and MBTA have played in making this progress happen."

“The development of an Assembly Row T station has been a true public and private partnership as Federal Realty, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Somerville have come together to improve a city’s economic future and connect a region through public transit investments,” said Don Briggs, President of Federal Realty Boston. “Assembly Row is a neighborhood unfolding that is now more accessible to all of Boston and beyond. From nationally known outlet retail to locally loved dining, interstate access to corporate campus amenities, Assembly Row is quickly becoming one of the region’s top destinations for the next-generation of work, live, shop, eat and play. ”

The new Assembly station is a true public-private partnership, funded through a combination of federal, state and private investment. The total cost of the station is $56 million with the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development contributing $25 million through a MassWorks grant, $16 million in federal funds and a $15 million investment from Federal Realty Investment Trust, the developers of the Assembly Row project.