Health Care For All

More than 51,000 drawn to health insurance pilot Healey signed ConnectorCare expansion after Baker vetoed it.

HCFA Executive Director Amy Rosenthal's statement on the release of the Connector Care Expansion Pilot Program data:

IMPORTANT: Keep MassHealth or Health Connector accounts updated with your latest contact information and income to make sure you get the best benefit you qualify for. Learn how to update your information by visiting mass.gov/masshealthrenew

📅 Today, August 23rd, is the final day to enroll in health & dental insurance starting September 1st with the Health Connector. Ensure you !
Visit: https://www.mahealthconnector.org

Go Dana!

I’m excited to announce the appointment of Dana Alas as the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement.

With over 20 years of career experience in labor, Dana Alas brings her unwavering advocacy for women workers, low-income workers, immigrant workers, and workers of color to our Office of Women’s Advancement.

With her keen understanding of grassroots healthcare organizing, Dana has led numerous successful campaigns and initiatives, empowering workers and making positive change at local and statewide levels. Her advocacy efforts have led to her election to Vice President of United Healthcare Workers East and she currently sits on the Board of .

The office’s goal is to uplift and support women through economic equity, representation, health, and safety. We’re excited for the continued work of the department with Dana as Director!

Thank you to the Legislature for this commitment to further improving maternal health care accessibility for all birthing people and their families in Massachusetts!

We were a little nervous when the International Olympic Committee informed us of the brand new “Health Care Advocacy” event at the 2024 Paris Games. Turns out, we had nothing to worry about as HCFA swept all three medals on the podium! See everyone in LA2028 🥇🥈🥉

As you may have read in HCFA's latest blog, President Joe Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris recently proposed a rule that would prevent from impacting credit scores, helping millions whose credit was damaged simply because they got sick. HCFA supports this proposal and has begun to develop a coordinated plan to in the state. Yesterday, members of the HCFA team helped organize a medical debt training session at Bentley University. We are eager to work in partnership with community organizations across eastern Massachusetts to eliminate medical debt and protect communities from future financial harm!

If health care inequity wants to outswim HCFA, it's gonna need a bigger boat. Happy !

Join Olive In July Inc., a HCFA partner organization, as they celebrate their 15th anniversary on Saturday, July 13 in Lawrence!

Health insurance assistance every Monday from 9am. Service on a first-come, first-served basis.

Registration, renewal, change of plan, updating information, among others.

Our address is 560 Waverly St, Framingham MA.

To know more about Mass Maternal/Perinatal: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/information-for-pregnant-masshealth-members

Your health matters, and we're here to help you stay covered. If you've lost health or dental insurance because of a recent job change or loss, you may be eligible for coverage through the Health Connector. Learn more and
https://www.mahealthconnector.org/the-right-plan-right-now

Happy Juneteenth! As HCFA celebrates this day of significance, we also reflect on the racial inequities in our health care system. HCFA recently took the Health Equity Compact pledge to ensure equity remains at the center of all the work we do in the fight for more affordable & accessible care for Massachusetts residents. Combatting inequity takes all of us. We encourage you to take the pledge as we work towards a more just system for all:
https://healthequitycompact.org/

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month! Marcella Lampon, HCFA's policy & project coordinator, wrote a blog breaking down some of the recent wins made in LGBTQ+ health care. Check out a blurb below.

This month we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride, a month dedicated to celebrating and commemorating the LGBTQ+ community, including those who took a stand against discrimination at the Stonewall Riots. Through the 1960s, police raids targeting the LGBTQ+ community were a fairly common practice. On June 28, 1969, police attempted to conduct one of these raids at the Stonewall Inn, a bar located in New York City. Unlike previous raids, however, patrons at the bar fought back as riots broke out, sparking a movement focused on LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. On the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first Pride march was held. Each year since, Pride marches across the country have grown in attendance and visibility. This year, more than 1 million people attended Boston Pride on June 8. The growth of Pride only emphasizes the tremendous progress that has been made. It is in this celebratory spirit that Health Care For All (HCFA) reflects on some recent wins made in LGBTQ+ health care...

Find the full blog here: https://hcfama.org/hcfa-celebrates-lgbtq-pride-month-june-18-2024/

Reforming prior authorization rules is a crucial step to improving patient care. HCFA ED Amy Rosenthal co-wrote an op-ed in the CommonWealth Beacon with Massachusetts Medical Society & Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. Read on to learn more about how Massachusetts can improve the delivery of quality health care for all patients.
https://commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/reform-of-prior-authorization-rules-crucial-patient-care/

Reform of 'prior authorization' rules crucial patient care Prior authorization began as a tool to monitor and control spending on costly or novel treatments, but it has proliferated to apply broadly to many medications, services, and treatments, including common life saving devices like inhalers.

NEW ACTION ALERT ON THE MOMS MATTER ACT!

Even if you've written a letter already, please write again and spread the word -- this letter is now going to Health Care Financing AND the House Speaker, so they know there is widespread community support for the bill!

Some background:
Postpartum depression and other Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are the #1 complication of pregnancy, but most birthing people and other parents facing these mental health challenges do NOT receive care. Incidence is higher and treatment rates are lower for parents facing racial or economic inequities. The Massachusetts Mind the Gap Coalition is working hard to change things by passing the Moms Matter Act.

After a powerful hearing, the Moms Matter Act received a “favorable” report from the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery in March. It is now currently under consideration by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, with a “report out” deadline of July 3.

If the bill does NOT receive a favorable report by this deadline -- NOW THREE WEEKS AWAY -- we lose our chance to pass it this legislative session!

Can you help? Click the link in comments to add your name -- it just takes a minute!

Huge thanks to our legislative champions Brandy Fluker Oakley State Representative 12th Suffolk District State Senator Liz Miranda and Steering Committee Women of Color Health Equity Collective - The Collective Ashley Sarah Propa City Community Outreach The EMA Project Neighborhood Birth Center Bay State Birth Coalition March of Dimes Amanda Hollis Garaffo

Congrats, Grad! 🎓 👊 🎉 Losing student health coverage through your college or university after you graduate doesn’t mean you need to go uninsured. Find out more about how to at https://lnkd.in/ejr8j64u

Today's rain didn't stop HCFA from seeing community partners during an enrollment event at the Lawrence Senior Center! HCFA team members Hannah Frigand and Emma Boucher, joined at the event by Mass Senior Action Council and Olive In July Inc., shared updates with event attendees about the recently expanded eligibility requirements for the Medicare Savings Program. If you'd like to learn more about these changes, use the link in our bio to check out HCFA's recent blog entry "More Money, Fewer Problems: Medicare Savings Program Expands in Massachusetts":
https://hcfama.org/more-money-fewer-problems-medicare-savings-program-expands-in-massachusetts/

Thank you, Speaker Mariano & Chair Lawn for your leadership on this important health care legislation! Read HCFA's full statement below:

It’s : Join the Haitian community in Boston and across MA for Haitian Heritage Month Kickoff on 05/08/2024 for 5:30-8:00 PM at 100 Hebron St, Mattapan, MA. Health Care For All Haitian Community Partners XtraMile Communications, LLC Brockton Workers Alliance Center To Support Immigrant Organizing City of Boston Imigran Ayisyen nan BostonH.A.U. (Haitian-Americans United, Inc.)Tele Patriyòt Ayisyen - Boston Mass General Brigham The Everett Haitian Community Center - EHCC Total Heath Chistian Ministry Haitian American Business Expo, Inc. Authentic Caribbean Foundation Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, At-Large

Thank you, Speaker Mariano, State Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Representative Lawn & all the HCFA champions who supported the House budget. The continued investment in our HelpLine & community partnerships is a win for health justice across the Commonwealth.