PRESS RELEASES
Health Leaders Participate in Health Care Reform Panel
MASS HEALTH CARE LEADERS PARTICIPATE IN INNOVATIVE HEALTH CARE
REFORM PANEL ON CAPE ANN
Northeast Health System CEO Ken Hanover and MHA President Lynn
Nicholas discuss impacts of health care reform on area communities
and families
(Gloucester, MA) - January 24, 2011 - Dozens of North Shore
business and community leaders and residents attended a recent
health care panel entitled 'Health Care Reform: What does the
Changing Landscape Mean to Me and My Family?' The discussion
featured Northeast Health System President and CEO Ken Hanover and
Massachusetts Hospital Association President and CEO Lynn
Nicholas. It was moderated by Bob Hastings, Executive
Director of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.
The event, which took place on January 13th, was an opportunity
to discuss the impact of health reform on Massachusetts and area
North Shore hospitals and families. Hanover and Nicholas addressed
a variety of topics relating to this issue, including the current
hospital climate, industry trends, major issues driving the cost of
health care, and potential future impacts of health care reform.
During the event, which was held at Cruiseport Gloucester,
attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions.
Lynn Nicholas has been a driving force in moving Massachusetts
to the forefront of constructive health care reform. The
Massachusetts Hospital Association President & CEO spotlighted
for more than 70 business leaders and members of the Gloucester
City Council the ramifications of the move from the current
fee-for-service health care system to a global or bundled
payment reimbursement model.
A move to global payments would end the practice of paying
health care providers for individual procedures, replacing it with
a system that attaches a fixed price to the routine health care
costs incurred by a patient over a given period of time.
"Massachusetts hospitals are committed to health care payment
and delivery reform, and believe that greater use of global or
bundled payments for care could result in more coordinated and
integrated care, which could help bring down premiums," Nicholas
said. "But just as hospitals are not solely or even primarily
responsible for cost increases, additional significant savings
cannot be achieved solely through steps taken by those who provide
care. Everyone involved - caregivers, insurers, legislators,
government, business and consumers - must share in the
solution."
Nicholas has served on the Massachusetts Attorney General's Task
Force on Community Benefits, the Governor's Special Commission on
Healthcare Payment Reform and numerous other boards, advisory
committees and philanthropic leadership committees. MHA is the
leading advocacy group for hospitals and health systems across the
state, representing more than 90 facilities.
Both Nicholas and Hanover told the crowd that it is imperative
we move now to take steps that will eventually improve health care
while controlling soaring costs.
"People hear and read about health care reform every day but its
effects on area communities and families are not always well
understood," said Hanover. "This event was an opportunity to
bring the discussion close to home and discuss how the legislation
impacts costs, our community hospitals, and the way we choose our
health providers. We are proud to serve the North Shore, and we are
always looking for ways to better utilize our resources so we can
provide the best medical care to our communities."
About Addison Gilbert Hospital
Addison Gilbert Hospital is a full service, medical/surgical acute
care facility. The hospital, founded in 1889, provides
state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient care to residents of the
Cape Ann community in specialties such as primary care, emergency
services, radiology and mammography, cancer care, day surgery,
physical and occupational therapy, gynecology, inpatient senior
health services, and a variety of specialty physician
services. Among all other Massachusetts hospitals, Addison
Gilbert continues to score among the top hospitals in the nation
for patient satisfaction in surveys conducted by Press Ganey
Associates.
About Northeast Health Foundation
Northeast Health Foundation is the fundraising arm of Northeast
Health System, which is based in Beverly on Massachusetts's North
Shore. The Foundation works to build philanthropy for Beverly
Hospital, Addison Gilbert Hospital, BayRidge Hospital, CAB Health
& Recovery Services and Health & Education Services,
Inc.--all not-for-profit affiliates of Northeast Health System. For
more information please visit www.nh-foundation.org.