Mass Health Care Price Variation Measure reached consensus

Governor Baker, House Speaker DeLeo, Senate President Rosenberg Announce Consensus On Health Care Price Variation Measure

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stan Rosenberg announced they reached a consensus solution that aims to avoid a ballot question concerning healthcare pricing. The measure reforms the Special Commission to Review Variation in Prices among Providers, adjusts MassHealth rates and provides additional support for community hospitals.

“Working across the aisle with legislative leaders to work out a consensus agreement is important to addressing the issues raised by the proposed ballot question and I am thankful for the cooperation of the Speaker and Senate President,” said Governor Baker. “I am pleased that we were able to reach these solutions together and I look forward to the Legislature taking up this matter.”

“On behalf of the House, I’d like to express my appreciation to Governor Baker and Senate President Rosenberg in working to forge consensus on this price variation agreement. It is my hope that this plan will avert a costly and divisive ballot initiative and lend assistance to our community hospitals, which serve our most underserved residents,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “I look forward to the work of the commission.”

“This framework establishes a path to a long term solution on the issue of price variation that will protect consumers, provide stability in the healthcare marketplace, and help put all of our hospitals on solid financial footing,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst).  “It is my hope that this consensus effort by the Legislature and Baker Administration will avoid a costly ballot question.”

Price Variation Commission:

Reforms the “Special Commission to Review Variation in Prices among Providers” by adding the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing as co-chairs to the Commission, giving the organization increased ability to examine this important issue for the healthcare industry.

MassHealth Rate Relief:

Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders to expend up to $15 million in additional rates to be returned to hospitals -- in addition to the $250 million hospital assessment proposal already included in the FY17 state budget. The additional funds will follow the same distribution formula as used for the distribution of the $250 million – sun setting after five years. 

Community Hospital Reinvestment Trust Fund:

The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) will administer a new $45 million Community Hospital Reinvestment Trust Fund over a period of five years.

The Trust Fund will be financed by redirecting existing assessments that now fund CHIA’s  budget.  The legislation will transfer $5 million from the CHIA appropriation to the Trust Fund in FY17 and $10 million each year thereafter in FY18-FY21.

The resulting $45 million in revenue will be distributed through a series of annual relief payments over a five year period.  All hospitals with relative prices below 120% of the statewide median price will be eligible for this funding.  Such annual payments would be weighted and allocated proportionally so that those hospitals with lower relative prices would receive relatively higher payment awards.

BCNC昆市品嚐風味Vivi 珍珠奶茶最受歡迎 （圖片）

Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Cap Sick Time Accrual

Baker-Polito Administration Files Legislation to Cap Sick Time Accrual

Bill brings Massachusetts in line with other states and the private sector, limits accrual to no more than 1,000 total hours

BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito introduced “An Act to Reform Sick Time ,” aimed at limiting sick time accruals that have led to exorbitant payouts upon retirement from state government.  The legislation would cap accrual of sick time for state employees in the Executive Department at no more than 1,000 hours, equivalent to six months of work.  The bill grandfathers in approximately 5,800 current state employees who already have more than 1,000 hours accrued. Those employees would be capped at their current earned amount as of the date of enactment. Once the legislation is passed, the policy will take effect immediately.

“Sick leave is a benefit designed to offer employees a way to deal with health and family issues, not a retirement bonus,” said Governor Baker. “Bringing the Commonwealth’s sick leave accrual policy in line with other private and public sector employers just makes sense and is the fiscally responsible thing to do.”

“This legislation ensures the use of sick time remains consistent with its intended purpose,” said Lieutenant Governor Polito. “Benefits for Executive Department employees will remain competitive while we implement an accrual policy that is fair to Massachusetts taxpayers.”

“Sick days serve an important purpose, but they must be used in an appropriate and accountable way for our compensation system to have the integrity and transparency taxpayers deserve,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr.

“Recent media reports highlighting excessive sick leave payouts in the public higher education system clearly demonstrate the need to crack down on these types of abuses,” said House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr. “The reforms proposed by the Baker-Polito Administration will help to provide greater transparency and accountability to the state’s taxpayers.”

"I am so pleased that the Governor has recognized the taxpayers' frustration at the types of "golden parachutes" we have seen recently by high ranking public employees leaving state service. I think his legislation will be an effective tool to mandate sick leave and vacation time be used correctly in the future," said Rep. Colleen Garry.

Under current law, employees can accrue a maximum of 15 sick days per year and those employees who retire are permitted to cash out 20% of unused sick time. In Fiscal Year 2015, 378 employees had an accrual of more than 1,000 hours upon retirement.  While this represents only approximately one third the number of retiring employees, the cash-outs for these employees accounted for nearly 80% of the total cash-out cost.  Based on the last three fiscal years, if fully implemented, a 1,000 hour cap on accruals would have saved an average of $3.5M in cash-outs per year.

Baker-Polito Administration Awards MassWorks Funding to Ludlow Mills Riverwalk

Baker-Polito Administration Awards MassWorks Funding to Ludlow Mills Riverwalk

The grant will support increased pedestrian safety and historical awareness in a mixed-use, mixed-income development

Ludlow – Tuesday, May 24, 2016 – Today Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced a $429,500 MassWorks award for the Town of Ludlow to improve pedestrian safety and provide historical signage along the Ludlow Mills Riverwalk. The multi-phased Riverwalk project reconnects the community with the Chicopee River for the first time in 160 years by redeveloping the former Ludlow Manufacturing and Sales Company buildings as residential, commercial, and industrial units.

“We are committed to helping communities invest in their infrastructure to attract private investment and create jobs,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Ludlow’s Riverwalk builds on the community’s history and assets to create an attractive space for residents, businesses, and visitors that will help drive economic development in the area.”

“Community-directed revitalization efforts are the most effective way to support Massachusetts’ cities and towns,” said Lt. Governor Polito. “The collective buy-in on this project, from the streamlined permitting process to Westmass’s commitment to create open public space along the waterfront, was a significant part of our decision to fund the Riverwalk.”

This investment is the first out-of-round MassWorks award granted by the Baker-Polito Administration, and was approved based on its varied funding sources – including $600,000 in matching funds – and its alignment with the Administration’s interest in mixed-use and mixed-income developments that draw private investment and create jobs for Massachusetts residents.

Kenn W. Delude, President of Westmass, reiterated the importance of these grant funds. “These funds will provide the public with pedestrian lighting along the Riverwalk’s route, historic interpretative signage and other site elements so that all who use the Riverwalk will have increased safety and an opportunity to understand the historic significance of the Ludlow Mills,” Delude said. “The Riverwalk provides public open space and links the community to the Chicopee River and to its industrial past.”

The MassWorks Infrastructure Program provides a one stop shop for municipalities and other eligible public entities seeking public infrastructure funding to support housing production, economic development, and job creation through strategic investments in public infrastructure. The 2015 grant round generated 101 applications for more than $245 million in infrastructure requests. The Baker-Polito Administration’s 2017 capital budget increases funding for the MassWorks Infrastructure Program to $90 million. Over the past two fiscal years the Administration has increased MassWorks funding by $35 million.

Each year, the program allocates 10 percent of the awarded funds to assist municipalities with populations of 7,000 or less in completing roadway safety and transportation improvement projects. The MassWorks Program has invested over $357 million across the Commonwealth since the first competitive grant round was held in September 2011.

More information is available at the 2015 MassWorks Award Results page.

麻州中醫學會辦哈佛論壇 申論男性不孕，纖維肌痛治療

麻州中醫學會會長張群豪（右）頒發感謝狀給楊觀虎（左）。
（周菊子攝）

            (Boston Orange 周菊子貝爾蒙鎮報導)麻省中醫學會與哈佛大學醫學院替代醫療中心合作，5月22日在該校麥克林（McLean）醫院舉辦中醫藥論壇，申論中醫在治療男性不育症，腸道易激綜合症，及慢性疼痛，纖維肌痛等病症上的應用，逾百人出席，提問十分踴躍。

            講座由李志平醫師主持，麻省中醫學會會長張群豪致詞，獲有浙江中、南京中醫學院學士、碩士學位，日本金沢醫科大學醫學博士學位，中西醫兼通，曾參與編譯五本中醫書籍，發表了三十多篇在國際上有影響力論文的楊觀虎邀楊觀虎應邀做論壇主講人，所有出席醫師均獲得9個持續學習學分。

            中西醫兼通的楊觀虎，去年獲聘為俄亥俄大學醫學院臨床助理副教授，曾於2005到2009年在俄亥俄州擔任SHI針灸學校校長，現在辛辛那提市經營二個中醫診所，同時擔任世界中醫聯合會內科專業委員會理事，美國中醫藥學會副會長，還是Cellular % Molecular Biology等國際著名科學雜誌審稿人。

            楊觀虎以將近150張幻燈片，詳細解釋男性不育症原因直治療方法，再仔細分析了慢性疼痛和纖維肌痛。

第一排左起李志平 Linda Robinson  章珍珍 Yvonne chen 第二排左起
 曹艳 grant Hou 陆卫东 杨观虎 张炜 张群豪 May Zhang 何德广。
（中醫學會提供）

            在男治疗男性不育症，楊觀虎指出，根據WHO的2009年統計，每七對夫婦就有一對不孕，大約15%的育齡夫婦存在不育問題，30%完全是男性的關係，其中又有37.4%是精索靜脈曲張。中西醫對此症病因及治療法，各有不同觀點。

            傳統中醫認為此病關鍵在腎，肝脾心也都有密切關係，治療注重調理腎臟陰陽，治本有益腎，補脾之分。治療時切忌使用苦寒，溫熱藥品，針灸治療一定要遵循辯證，辨病與循經相結合，根據穴性取穴的做法。

            在慢性疼痛和纖維肌痛上，楊觀虎指出，大約三分之一找醫生看病的人，都是因為慢性疼痛，但致病原因十分複雜，其中的纖維肌痛，至今不明病因，甚至還未被確認為病症之一種。

            中醫認為，病人肌肉內缺氧是關鍵因素，楊觀虎認為，肝鬱脾虛，氣血不合適關鍵。症狀上有痛，疲，眠，神，久等五種，臨床分型上有七種，包括脾虛肝鬱型，氣滯血瘀行，心脾兩虛型，風濕阻絡型，心腎不交型，脾腎陽虛型，陰陽兩虛型。

部分出席者合影。（中醫學會提供）

            在長億肌綜合症部分，大波士頓本地的劉京，曹豔等人，也分別從不同角度申論。一般而言，此病臨床表現主要分為便秘，腹瀉，脾胃虛弱等幾種，治療方法各不相同，除了内服外用药物外，针灸、推拿等治療也有較好療效，調節飲食，配合的心理治療，有都很重要。

MAYOR WALSH COMMITS $7.5 MILLION TO CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

MAYOR WALSH COMMITS $7.5 MILLION TO CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL BOSTON RESIDENTS First RFP for pilot Acquisition Opportunity Program released

BOSTON - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 - To help protect tenants and preserve the city's moderately priced housing stock, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the City of Boston has earmarked $7.5 million of Inclusionary Development funds to support the acquisition of occupied rental housing.  Through the new Acquisition Opportunity Program, the Department of Neighborhood Development will provide subordinate loans to help responsible investor-owners acquire occupied, multi-family rental properties. Property owners assisted through the program will be required to maintain the tenancies of residents in good standing and will also be required to maintain affordable rent levels for the units in the property for a minimum of 50 years.   "Boston is committed to making our city a home for everyone, no matter their age, background or financial status. This $7.5 million investment is another leap towards creating affordable housing for all our residents," said Mayor Walsh. "We are committed to growing our affordable housing stock, and programs like the Acquisition Opportunity Program ensures Boston residents will not be priced out of their homes and neighborhoods."  The Acquisition Opportunity Program is designed to increase the share of Boston's rental housing stock that is protected from market forces, creating affordable housing for Boston residents who cannot afford market rate rents. To participate in the program, a developer or owner must agree that a minimum of 40 percent of the units will be restricted for low and moderate-income families. In addition, funding preference will be given to developments that have either a higher number of restricted units or have units restricted to lower incomes.  The program will also prevent displacement of tenants threatened by the forces of gentrification by ensuring that their apartments will not become unaffordable over the long term. To ensure this, the program is only available for investor-owned rental properties that are either fully or partially occupied. To participate, developers are required to agree that no tenant in good standing will be displaced from their unit.   In conversations with the community, affordable housing developers and nonprofits, the City found affordable housing developers can be outpaced in the housing market because private investors often have access to capital and cash that may not be as readily available to affordable housing developers. The Acquisition Opportunity Program offers a solution to this challenge by offering developers the opportunity to pre-qualify for a set amount of funding. This pre-qualification will enable potential buyers to be more nimble and competitive in Boston's fast-moving real estate market.  Development teams will pre-qualify for the program by demonstrating they have the experience and financial capacity to undertake an Acquisition Opportunity project, and have the management experience to successfully operate the properties long-term. Through a competitive RFP process, development teams will be selected and will receive certification from the City for the requested amount of their loan. Once pre-qualified, teams can begin looking for properties. When a property is identified, the prospective buyer can then make an offer, confirm that offer with the City and close on the sale efficiently.

Mayor urges congress to act on gun violence strategies

MAYOR WALSH DISCUSSES IMPORTANCE OF EXECUTIVE ACTION AND WORKING COLLABORATIVELY, URGES CONGRESS TO ACT ON GUN VIOLENCE STRATEGIES

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 - Mayor Walsh today offered the following remarks at the White House State and Local Gun Violence Prevention Convening in Washington D.C.  The White House convened a group of state and local elected officials from all 50 states who have been leaders in the fight to address gun violence to engage with senior Administration officials and to exchange information about steps they are taking in their communities.  Remarks of Mayor Walsh as Prepared for Delivery:  I want to thank President Obama, Vice President Biden, and the Administration for hosting this convening. I want to thank my fellow mayors: San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Thank you to the leaders from all 50 states for being here. Thank you, Attorney General Maura Healey for joining me in representing Massachusetts. Thank you to our moderator, Brian Kavanagh, Founder of American State Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention. -I also want to thank my fellow panelists: Bea Hanson, from the Office on Violence Against Women, Connecticut Governor Malloy, and Los Angeles City Attorney  Feuer. Gun violence is one of the defining challenges of our time--- it is a scourge devastating both children and adults. All of us in this room are taking action, on many levels, to stop gun violence. We have success to show for it. In Boston, we've seen homicides drop more than half since the mid-90s (1995, 98 homicides vs. 2015, 40) But we know that even one gun-related death is too many---We must do more. We can't afford not to. As city and state leaders, we are looking for national leadership on this issue. I commend President Obama for his Executive Actions on Gun Control.  As leaders ourselves, we must also take our own Executive Actions to address gun violence. We need a coordinated approach, across all levels. For instance, in Boston, we know gun violence isn't just a Boston problem-it's a New England problem. 70% of Boston's crime guns come from other states-states with weaker gun laws. So we convened Regional Gun Summits. We've organized regional and coordinated responses, reaching out to over 80 cities. At our most recent gun summit, we announced a pilot program with national non-profit, Arms With Ethics. They'll work closely with our law enforcement to create customized projects to prevent illegal flow and use of guns. We're reaching out to our residents & responsible gun owners --- something that hasn't been done before. We've gotten positive feedback. It's clear they want to be part of the solution, too. We're taking many more steps on a local level: We're analyzing traced guns for research purposes. We have a successful gun buyback program. We also instituted a citywide ban on replica handguns: a move that will save many children's lives. We're educating women about the danger of holding guns for their partners. We know that gun violence is very complicated. It overlaps with other community problems: like illegal drug use, domestic violence, and mental illness. We need to make sure all of our systems and agencies are talking to one another and working together. And we need to make sure every level of government is working together. I want to applaud the governor and state legislators for the action you've all taken to combat gun violence in your own states. I urge you to keep collaborating with your mayors as well. We are on the frontlines of this problem. And all of us share the responsibility to end gun violence. Only together can we make that happen. Thank you.