Romney care had nothing to do with him. The genuinely grassroots Greater Boston Interfaith Organization(GBIO) formed an alliance with some hospitals and HMO's which pushed it through the legislature. As a backup and as a pressure device GBIO collected enough signatures for a referendum. Those seventy faith organizations, Christian, Jewish and Islamic from both the city and the suburbs formed a group ten years ago committed to seeking fairness and economic justice.
GBIO successfully paved the way for Obama care but that is increasingly expensive and will eventually bankrupt both individuals and the USA. So now GBIO will step up again and take on the entire medical care industry and tame it. We intend to work on bending the cost curve. It might seem like too big a job, but then we have God on our side.
1. Hear Our Voice: Include Consumers in Payment Reform Decisions.
Patient and consumer representatives must have a meaningful role in guiding payment reform in Massachusetts, and in the decisions of health care delivery systems.
2. Health Care, Not Just Sick Care: Restructure Payments to Promote Value.
The current payment system does not adequately reward primary care and prevention, nor does it support coordinated care or patient education. Transparent payment systems must be created which focus on quality and value.
3. Protect Everyone's Health: Comprehensive Care For All:
The payment system must assure everyone-including people who are ill or part of a vulnerable population-that their care needs will be met. This includes a choice of quality providers, a fair process to appeal denials of care, and the availability of all necessary services. Provider payments should be adjusted for health status and social and economic factors.
4. Public Health Pays Off:
Invest in Community Prevention and Public Health. Community efforts to prevent disease and injury are an essential part of cutting the cost of medical care. Payment reform must include dedicated funding for cost-saving public health and community prevention efforts.
5. Fair Payment: Effective Public Oversight of Health Care Costs.
Unregulated, private market negotiations have failed to produce affordable, fair and equitable payment levels for health care. State government must have authority to require reasonable charges by insurers, hospitals and other medical providers.
GBIO and
HealthCare for All are pushing for a law with the above points. MA Att. Gen. Martha Coakley (who lost to now Sen. Scott Brown) is investigating
cost issues.