Health Safety Net (HSN)

Uncompensated funding for patients without other resources.
07.30.2018  | Governor Signs Budget and Tobacco Bill
Last Thursday, Governor Charlie Baker signed the $41.7 billion FY19 state budget.
07.23.2018  | Proposed State Budget Passes Legislature, Sent to Governor
The Massachusetts Legislature approved a $41.88 billion FY2019 state budget last Wednesday and sent it to Governor Baker.
06.25.2018  | House Healthcare Bill Includes Help for Hospitals
A conference committee will now attempt to resolve differences between the House bill and legislation from the Senate passed last year.
05.21.2018  | Senate Budget Debate Begins; MHA Suggests Two Amendments
Debate on the Massachusetts Senate’s budget proposal begins tomorrow and MHA has two priority amendment.
04.23.2018  | Three Hospital Priorities for FY2019 House Budget Debate
Debate begins today on the Massachusetts House Ways & Means Committee’s state budget proposal for FY 2019.
04.16.2018  | House Budget Provides Support for DSH and Safety Net
The Massachusetts House Ways & Means Committee released its proposed FY19 state budget last Wednesday, and a preliminary review of it shows that the budget writers were responsive to some key hospital priorities.
04.09.2018  | House Ways & Means Committee FY2019 Budget Expected This Week
The House Ways & Means Committee version of the FY2019 state budget is expected to be released by the committee this Wednesday.
03.05.2018  | FY19 Budget Priorities for House Ways & Means Committee
MHA weighed in with the House Ways & Means Committee as it prepares to take the next step in the state’s budget process.
02.19.2018  | MassHealth ACO Program Begins March 1
The MassHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program begins on Thursday, March 1.
02.05.2018  | DeLeo Cites Hospital Excellence, Promises New Reform Bill
Robert DeLeo laid out priorities for the new legislative year, including a vow to take up healthcare reform “in the coming months.”
01.29.2018  | MassHealth Reform Revisited in Governor’s State Budget Proposal
Last Wednesday, Governor Charlie Baker released a $40.9 billion FY19 state budget proposal.
10.23.2017  | Mass. Senate Proposes Massive Healthcare Reform Bill
Senate leaders unveiled a 159-section, 101-page healthcare reform bill on Tuesday that addresses behavioral health, provider price variation, readmissions, the scope of practice for various health professions, and telemedicine – among a host of other
10.16.2017  | A Focus on Employer Insurance Reporting and MassHealth Funding
A deficiency budget that the Massachusetts House passed this week to close the books on FY17 included a provision requiring every employer in Massachusetts with six or more workers to out an employer medical assistance contribution (EMAC) compliance
07.24.2017  | Gov. Baker Sets Deadline for MassHealth Reforms
Last week Governor Baker signed a $39.4 billion state budget, vetoing about $222 million in MassHealth line while sending back to the legislature proposed healthcare amendments to the budget that Baker wants action on within 60 days
07.18.2017  | SB1235 An Act to Prevent Unscrupulous Medical Debt Recovery Practices
SB1235 An Act to Prevent Unscrupulous Medical Debt Recovery Practices
06.19.2017  | Governor Baker Issues MassHealth Budget Proposal
Governor Charlie Baker announced a “MassHealth Reform Package” Tuesday that includes revenues and savings totaling $314.6 million. Governor shared the proposal with the legislature in hopes that it will be included in the final FY2018 state budget.
06.06.2017  | Market Performance & Oversight and Health Funds & Assessments
MHA appreciates this opportunity to offer comments on bills that address market performance and oversight of the healthcare entities and the assessment of funding to provide financial support for the healthcare system.
06.27.2016  | MHA's Task Force Releases Guidance On Opioid Prescribing
MHA’s Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Task Force (SUDPTTF) has issued new guidelines for prescription opioid management within hospitals hospital settings.
06.20.2016  | State Seeks Massive Overhaul Of MassHealth
EOHHS has released the state’s Medicaid waiver proposal – the document that lays out the state’s plans for operating the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth) and related healthcare initiatives.
06.06.2016  | Aligning policy and people: transforming advanced care
On Tuesday, June 21The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC) and The Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Technology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School will co-host the inaugural event for the Project on Advanced Care and Health Policy.

Resources

Click on the links below for easy access to important information related to state healthcare issues and advocacy.
Visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts websites below to find information on legislative hearings and other meetings of interest to the healthcare community.
To guide your navigation of the legislative process and assist your advocacy efforts, please visit the following state websites:
MHA has also developed the following documents for your information and benefit: