MHPF Highlights
Senator Harriette Chandler: True Health Care Must Include Dental Care
What changes will Obama make to health care?
MHPF in the News
Michael Doonan talks about hospital cuts in MA
Lean, Mean, Learning Machines
Press Releases
Release 6.16.09
Debate Continues on How to Provide Quality Dental Care to All Residents
Release 1.26.09
Mass In Motion: Addressing Obesity and Overweight in the Commonwealth
Forum held on June 16, 2009
Putting the Mouth Back in the Body: Improving Oral Health across the Commonwealth
Issues of oral health are critical to overall health. However, many still do not have access to preventive measures we know work. There is also a looming shortage of dental health care providers. Threatened cutbacks in adult dental coverage under MassHealth could jeopardize recent progress. This forum examined the state of oral health, and options for continued improvement at the state and national level. Speakers included: Senator Harriette Chandler, Representative John Scibak, Conan Davis from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, Catherine Hayes from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Frank Robinson from Partners for a Healthier Community, Libby Mullin from Mullin Strategies, Stewart Landers from the MA Department of Public Health, and Judith Jones from Boston University School of Dental Medicine. This forum was co-sponsored and made possible by the Massachusetts Dental Society and the DentaQuest Foundation.
Forum held on February 25, 2009
The MassHealth Waiver Renewal: Advancing Massachusetts Health Care Reform
This forum, cosponsored by the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute, explored the details of the recently approved MassHealth waiver, discussed the most significant changes and identified the major issues and challenges ahead. This latest renewal focuses on cost and quality improvements while maintaining the state’s historic coverage expansions. An overview of the waiver was given by Stephanie Anthony from Center for Health Law and Economics, University of Massachusetts Medical School. We then heard a reaction from Health and Human Services Secretary JudyAnn Bigby, Senator Richard Moore, and Stacey Sachs from the Office of Senator Edward Kennedy. Additional speakers included: Alan Weil from the National Academy for State Health Policy, Elaine Ullian, the Chief Executive Officer of Boston Medical Center, Beth Waldman from Bailit Health Purchasing, and Meg Kroeplin from Community Partners.
Forum held on January 26, 2009
Mass In Motion: Addressing Obesity and Overweight in the Commonwealth
On January 8, 2009, the Patrick Administration led by Secretary of Health and Human Service Dr. JudyAnn Bigby and Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach introduced Mass In Motion, a comprehensive set of initiative to address the overweight and obesity epidemic in the Commonwealth.
At this forum, Commissioner Auerbach laid out the details of Mass In Motion. A panel which included, Rep. Peter Koutoujian, then reacted to the new plan. This event was co-sponsored by The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation's Growing Up Healthy initiative.