Massachusetts Public Health AssociationAction for a Healthy Massachusetts |
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Prevention in Payment Reform
VICTORY!
Prevention is the Key to Improving Health and Reducing Costs
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(To learn more and get involved in the implementation and expansion of the Prevention Trust, click here.)
On August 6, Governor Patrick signed the health care payment reform bill into law at a packed State House ceremony. Due to the hard work of a broad-based coalition led by MPHA over the past two years, a new Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund will be created and funded at $60 million over 4 years!
- Download the updated Prevention and Wellness Trust Fact Sheet here.
- Sign up for the MPHA newsletter for updates on funding opportunities and how you can get involved to promote, support, and expand the Trust.
- Read the Boston Globe article about the bill here.
This effort was being led by MPHA, Health Care for All, Health Resources in Action, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, and the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization.
LEARN MORE
Conference Committee releases final health care payment bill - July 30th
Due to the hard work of a broad-based coalition led by MPHA over the past two years, a new Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund will be created and funded at $60 million!
The bill is expected to be approved by the House and Senate on July 31st - the final day of the legislative session. We call on the legislature and Governor Patrick to move quickly to approve a final bill.
Read the coalition press statement.
Conference Committee Update - June 14th
Both the House and Senate have passed their versions of health care payment reform legislation, so the bills head now to a six-member Conference Committee. Due to the hard work of a broad-based coalition led by MPHA over the past two years, both bills contain language to create a new Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund!
The funding amounts in the two bills vary widely. Please join us in supporting a minimum of $100 million over five years to fund the Prevention and Wellness Trust.
Check out some of the recent support for the Trust:
- Letter from 69 Representatives and Senators
- Letter from 25 organizations and coalitions
- Letter from Trust for America's Health, including a new data brief on potential cost savings in Massachusetts.
House Bill - Updated June 5th
The House passed its payment reform proposal on June 5th. During floor debate, the House adopted an amendment to dedicate $20 million to the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund. Now we're on to Conference Committee! Stay tuned to learn what you can do to support a well-funded Prevention Trust.
Senate Bill - Updated May 18th
The Senate voted to pass their version of the bill on May 17th, which included a Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, funded at $20 million per year, to support community-based initiatives to combat preventable health conditions. This is a major victory, but we still have much work to do!
Letter from 49 Representatives
On January 24th, 49 Representatives urged the Health Care Financing Committee to include a robust and sustainable funding stream for prevention in any new health reform bill. Read the full letter here.
Open Letter to Massachusetts Legislative Leaders
On September 12, MPHA and our partners released an open letter to legislative leaders urging them to include a robust system of community-based prevention, including dedicated funding, in the next phase of health reform. The letter - which continues to grow daily - now includes more than 300 signatures, of which 122 are Massachusetts organizations, municipalities, or businesses. It's not too late to add your name!
Click here for the letter and full list of signatures.
Click here to read the press release and summary of signers.
Click here to sign your organization or yourself on!
Bill information
- Fact Sheet for Advocates/Community Members
- Fact Sheet for Legislators
- Fact Sheet: Prevention and Payment Reform - By the Numbers
- Overview of Public Health and Cost Control Trust - Power Point presentation
- Text of House Bill 1498
Research on prevention and cost savings
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Return on Investments in Public Health: A Summary of Groundbreaking Research Studies. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Policy Highlight Brief, October 2011.
- Modeling Potential Massachusetts Savings from Prevention.
Presentation Slides from the Urban Institute, 2011.
- Annual Savings in Massachusetts After a 5% Reduction in Preventable Medical Conditions. Data from Ormand, et al. American Journal of Public Health, 2011.
- High Cost of Doing Nothing to Prevent Disease: Treatment Expenditures for Heart Disease in Massachusetts, with and without Moderate Changes Toward Prevention.
Data from Milken Institute, An Unhealthy American: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease, 2007.
- Prevention for a Healthier America: Investments in Disease Prevention Yield Significant Savings, Stronger Communities. Trust for America's Health, 2009.
- Potential National and State Medical Care Savings from Primary Disease Prevention. Ormond, et al. American Journal of Public Health, January 2011.
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Why Behavioral And Environmental Interventions Are Needed To Improve Health At Lower Cost. Milstein, et al. Health Affairs, 2011.
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Economic Benefits of Preventing Disease – excerpt from National Prevention Strategy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2011.
- An Unhealthy America: The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease. Charting a New Course to Save Lives and Increase Productivity and Economic Growth. Milken Institute, 2007.
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Community-Based Prevention: Sample Interventions. Compiled by MPHA from Trust for America's Health and The Prevention Institute.
- Evidence Links Increases in Public Health Spending to Declines in Preventable Deaths. Mays, et al. American Journal of Public Health, 2011.
Coalition Materials
- Statement on Endorsement by Legislature's Public Health Committee
- Pictures from the May 3rd press conference and hearing.
- May 3rd Press Release: "Coalition Calls for Community-Based Prevention Dollars as Part of Health Care Cost Reform."
- Bios of Press Conference speakers
- Press conference and hearing - invitation and flyer
GET INVOLVED
We need your help! Here's what you can do:
- Sign up for the MPHA newsletter for updates on funding opportunities and how you can get involved to promote, support, and expand the Trust.