PRESS RELEASES
Mass. Council of Community Hospitals Announces Legislative Agenda
Mass. Council of Community Hospitals Supports Legislation to Improve Healthcare Delivery System
(Braintree, Mass.) - The Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals (MCCH) announced its legislative agenda today and, at the center of that agenda, is legislation that was filed that would invest in community-based medicine, which is also an investment in many cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth.
Among the several important pieces of legislation filed are a few notable bills; First, a bill that would support the recruitment of primary care doctors for community hospitals by using surplus money from the Health Safety Net Fund. With more individuals insured under the recent healthcare reform plan it is critical that community hospitals recruit and retain primary care physicians as they are the first line of defense in prevention, diagnosis and treatment in our communities.
Second, establishment of a fund for Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE). CPOE is necessary for healthcare providers both to be able to provide quality healthcare and to function in the most efficient and cost effective manner. This is a mandated program requiring implementation by 2012. Community hospitals, which often receive lower reimbursement rates, have tremendous infrastructure needs yet less access to capital and therefore such a fund would benefit community hospitals and communities in the Commonwealth.
Finally, a bill was filed that authorizes the Department of Public Health to conduct a study of community hospitals and any potential destabilizing forces that may be impacting them. Community hospitals often suffer from an outmigration of patients who leave for other hospitals as a result of the opening of additional health care services by other providers in the community hospital’s primary service area.
“The Commonwealth has committed itself to affordable health care for all. This cannot be done without a vibrant community hospital system. By promoting community medicine we are improving the overall quality of care, reducing the financial burden on families and employers and contributing to the growth of our local communities.” said Don Thieme, executive director of MCCH. “We believe that this legislation, as well as other legislation we have filed that improves the ability of community hospitals to provide needed services, needs to be debated and hopefully passed quickly.”
The Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals is a 501C3 not for profit corporation. It is composed of 23 community hospitals accounting for approximately twenty five percent (25%) of all acute care admissions in the Commonwealth.
