Hallie Claflin does a deep dive into the long-term affects of Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy filing, and what hospital closures could mean for the Healey administration going forward. Plus: Universities and businesses grapple with the prospect of lower international enrollment in Boston-area schools, permitting can’t catch up to demand for new housing, state senators question sheriff spending, and more.
Healthcare
Posted inState Government
Health care advocate joining state service as undersecretary
“Amy Rosenthal, executive director of the nonprofit Health Care For All, will join state government next month as undersecretary of health, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday.”
Posted inHealth Care
State orders open access to free prenatal vitamins, birth control
“We know that prenatal vitamins and birth control play an essential role in women’s health. No one should be prevented from getting the care they need because of cost or because they are waiting for a prescription,” Healey said in a statement.
Posted inHealth Care
Judge orders temporary receivership for Boston nursing home
The receivership order still leaves the door open to a potential closure if the Department of Public Health approves a closure plan filed by the facility in February.
Posted inOpinion
Here’s how HPC should be reviewing the Steward-Optum deal
Some of the issues arise because of who the seller is and some are tied to worries about this particular buyer.
Posted inOpinion
The state’s options with Steward on the brink
State government needs to re-engage in statewide health system planning. We need functioning markets in health and medical care, and we need intelligent and thoughtful statewide planning that is more proactive and less reactive.
Posted inOpinion
Some thoughts on how to deal with the Steward situation
STEWARD HEALTH CARE appears to be in serious financial trouble. In some ways, it’s surprising the for-profit health care system — with 33 hospitals, including eight in Massachusetts, plus a physicians […]
Posted inBy The Numbers
How do Mass. academic medical centers stack up?
According to an analysis of the data, the 10 academic medical centers in Massachusetts generally performed poorly compared to 200 other peer institutions around the country when it comes to patient outcomes and patient safety, but fared well in avoiding the overuse of certain “low-value” medical procedures.
Posted inHealth Care
Lehman Center chief: System doesn’t prioritize patient safety
Tens of thousands of people are harmed every year in Massachusetts due to preventable medical errors, according to Barbara Fain, head of the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety.
Posted inThe Download
Prepping for a possible round two
Even as states begin to reopen, a growing chorus of researchers and doctors are openly worrying that there could be a resurgence of coronavirus, possibly in the fall. Conventional wisdom […]
Posted inUncategorized
What makes a COVID-19 hotspot?
IT’S NO SECRET that the coronavirus is not evenly spread across Massachusetts. New statistics released Wednesday confirmed that Chelsea remains a hotspot of the virus, with the most cases per capita. Brockton […]
Posted inThe Download
What makes a COVID-19 hotspot?
It’s no secret that the coronavirus is not evenly spread across Massachusetts. New statistics released Wednesday confirmed that Chelsea remains a hotspot of the virus, with the most cases per capita. […]
Posted inHealth Care
Coronavirus spotlights unease with end-of-life issues
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC has brought inspired scenes of heroic health care providers engaged in an all-out effort to save lives. But what about helping those at the end of life have […]
Posted inThe Download
Coronavirus spotlights unease about end-of-life issues
The coronavirus pandemic has brought inspired scenes of heroic health care providers engaged in an all-out effort to save lives. But what about helping those at the end of life […]
Posted inHealth Care
State revises regs on crisis care
THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION revised its voluntary guidelines for who should receive scarce treatments like ventilators during the COVID-19 crisis by prioritizing those likely to survive for the next five years and […]
Posted inThe Download
State revises regs on crisis care
The Baker administration revised its voluntary guidelines for who should receive scarce treatments like ventilators during the COVID-19 crisis by prioritizing those likely to survive for the next five years […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker accused of misplaced COVID-19 priorities
Two leading officials in the state’s nursing home industry said on The Codcast that the Baker administration focused too much attention in the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis on […]
Posted inThe Download
Baker accused of misplaced COVID-19 priorities
Two leading officials in the state’s nursing home industry said on The Codcast that the Baker administration focused too much attention in the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis on […]
Posted inHealth Care
Coronavirus disproportionately hitting blacks and Latinos
IT IS BOTH A shocking but also utterly predictable new chapter in the unfolding coronavirus saga. The pandemic sweeping the country appears to be exacting a particularly high toll in black […]
Posted inThe Download
Coronavirus disproportionately hitting blacks and Latinos
It is both a shocking but also utterly predictable new chapter in the unfolding coronavirus saga. The pandemic sweeping the country appears to be exacting a particularly high toll in […]
Posted inUncategorized
Catch-22 on coronavirus tests
IT’S A HARROWING STORY. You have most of the symptoms of coronavirus. You’ve self-quarantined at home for two weeks. You’re not getting any better. But the local hospital can’t test you […]
Posted inThe Download
Catch-22 on coronavirus tests
It’s a harrowing story. You have most of the symptoms of coronavirus. You’ve self-quarantined at home for two weeks. You’re not getting any better. But the local hospital can’t test […]
Posted inHealth Care
Steve Walsh raises concerns about urgent care clinics
THE PRESIDENT AND CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospitals Association downplayed the recent outpatient expansion proposal of Partners HealthCare and said the real concern is the rapid growth of […]
Posted inThe Download
Steve Walsh raises concerns about urgent care clinics
The president and CEO of the Massachusetts Health & Hospitals Association downplayed the recent outpatient expansion proposal of Partners HealthCare and said the real concern is the rapid growth of […]