Health Policy Commission

What exactly is the health care cost growth benchmark, and how does this benchmark provide a measurable goal for health care spending? Watch the HPC Short: The Massachusetts Cost Growth Benchmark to learn more about the benchmarking process, how this motivates action to moderate health care spending growth, and about the implications of high health care costs on Massachusetts residents. #healthpolicy #healthcare #costofcare

HPC Executive Director David Seltz was proud to present the keynote address at this week’s Association for Behavioral Healthcare annual meeting. Thank you to the Association for Behavioral Healthcare for their dedicated work supporting community-based mental health and addiction treatment services!

A high-functioning primary care system can result in reduced health care costs, improved patient outcomes, and more equitable care. Explore the new interactive dashboard from The Center for Health Information and Analysis to examine the health of primary care across Massachusetts: https://lnkd.in/eSsVmY-c #primarycare #healthpolicy

Join the HPC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for a webinar: Multiple Marginalized Identities: Addressing the Discrimination Faced by People of Color with Substance Use Disorder in the Perinatal Period. The webinar will focus on findings of the Inviting Narratives of SUD treatment in the Perinatal period: a focus on Race and Equity (INSPiRE) Project, a community-engaged project aimed at understanding the perspectives of women of color with #SubstanceUseDisorder during pregnancy and postpartum. Experts will also discuss needed clinical and policy changes to address inequities in perinatal substance use disorder care and treatment ➡️Thursday, May 23rd 2-3 PM ET Register via Zoom: https://t.co/TSAv9IwRVs #maternalhealth #SUD #healthequity

Despite Massachusetts performing well for many indicators of reproductive care and women’s health, including low infant and maternal mortality, the Commonwealth ranked 45th in the nation for severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rates. SMM is defined as unexpected outcomes of labor and delivery that result in significant short- or long-term consequences to health, including pregnancy-related conditions such as eclampsia and severe cardiovascular complications, and procedures such as hysterectomy. SMM has significant impacts for patients and the health care system at large, including patient health consequences, increased medical costs, and longer hospital stays. Maternity episodes with SMM were almost twice as costly, on average, than episodes without SMM among both commercially and publicly insured patients. Among Massachusetts residents, SMM rates were highest for Black non-Hispanic birthing people, with a rate of SMM 2.5 times higher than White non-Hispanic birthing people as well as the highest rate of postpartum hospitalizations for SMM. As research suggests early intervention in hypertensive disorders may improve outcomes and reduce SMM, the HPC proposes a remote blood pressure monitoring investment program to improve health outcomes. Read more about the HPC’s research on SMM and proposed investment program: https://lnkd.in/eVUVjtFw #maternalhealthequity #maternalhealth #SMM #healthpolicy #healthequity

Watch the HPC's Market Oversight and Transparency (MOAT) and Care Delivery Transformation (CDT) policy committee meetings, starting now! MOAT Meeting: 12:00 PM EDT CDT Meeting: 1:30 PM EDT Watch live on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eSgNHQcm

This week, we celebrate #NationalNursesWeek. To all of the nurses in the Commonwealth and beyond, thank you for your dedication and your service, which is critical to our health care system!

Watch the virtual HPC Policy Committee Meetings this Thursday, May 9th from 12-3 PM EDT. The Market Oversight and Transparency (MOAT) Committee meeting begins at noon. Commissioners will discuss new HPC staff research assessing Massachusetts’ health care needs, health care resources, and tools for alignment. At the Care and Delivery Transformation (CDT) Committee meeting beginning at 1:30 PM, commissioners will reflect on the HPC’s ongoing work focused on severe maternal morbidity in Massachusetts and further explore opportunities for investment in remote blood pressure monitoring for at-risk birthing people. Staff will also present the Office of Patient Protection (OPP) 2022 Annual Report. MOAT agenda: https://lnkd.in/eP_uQZwD CDT agenda: https://lnkd.in/eP_uQZwD Livestream: https://lnkd.in/eSgNHQcm #healthpolicy #severematernalmorbidity #SMM #remotemonitoring

The HPC has released a new publication highlighting the awardee partnerships of the MassUP Investment Program. Read MassUP: Key Concepts in Practice for insights on the core elements of effective collaboration between health organizations and community-based organizations addressing social determinants of health in their communities. Read MassUp: Key Concepts in Practice: https://lnkd.in/ee7hVw7g View the MassUP profiles to learn more about the four MassUP partnerships -- Cross-City Coalition, Hampshire County Food Policy Council, HEAL Winchendon, and Springfield EATS: https://lnkd.in/eNjd9e9E #healthpolicy #communitypartnerships #SDOH #CBOs

HPC Executive Director David Seltz was proud to welcome Senator Liz Miranda to the HPC today. Senator Miranda’s visit was part of her continued support of the HPC BESIDE Investment Program, which addresses racial inequities in maternal health care by expanding doula service access for Black birthing people. We’re excited to share more on Senator Miranda’s thoughts about culturally congruent maternal health care and the BESIDE program in the future! Learn more about the BESIDE program and the work of program awardees Baystate Health and Boston Medical Center (BMC) to improve the care and patient experience of Black birthing people: https://lnkd.in/egDsZBU7 #healthequity #maternalhealth