Health Care Access & Affordability

Christine was a health care policy analyst, working with groups around the country to improve access to care, before she became State Representative. She has built upon her expertise to address our broken health care system by taking on issues like reducing prescription drug costs and ensuring equal access to care. When Governor Baker tried to roll back Medicaid Expansion, Christine organized her colleagues to defeat the effort. There is no stronger advocate for access to health care.

 

Public Option

Issue
While Massachusetts has some of the best health care in the nation, residents continue to face unaffordable costs, and too many go without necessary care. I support a public option for health care to make care for more people who need it.

Christine’s Plan
I am a co-sponsor on H.1194 to establish Medicare for all in Massachusetts. I am also a member of the Medicare for All Caucus in the State House and work toward access to health care for all.

 

Prescription Drug Costs & Affordability

Issue
Prescription drug costs continue to rise, placing a significant burden on families and the state’s budget. The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission found that in 2018, MA drug spending increased by over 4% from the previous year, more than twice as much as overall health care spending.

This means higher out-of-pocket costs for patients, who may be less able to afford and take medications that their doctors prescribe. Massachusetts has a process where most in the health care system have come to the table to work to lower health care costs - including hospitals, insurers, businesses, providers, and consumers.

The pharmaceutical industry, however, has not yet been held accountable to participate in addressing health care costs.

Christine’s Plan
I filed a bill to make prescription drugs more affordable and make pharmaceutical costs more transparent. This comprehensive bill uses a variety of strategies to make prescription medicines more affordable including:

  • Providing transparency on the underlying costs to make prescription drugs, in comparison to marketing and administrative expenses

  • Requiring pharmaceutical companies to participate in the independent Health Policy Commission’s cost containment process;

  • Regulating and providing transparency for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)

  • Requiring pharmacists to inform consumers if purchasing a drug at the retail price would be cheaper than using their insurance

  • Providing tools to strengthen MassHealth’s ability to negotiate lower drug prices for its patients

 

Provider Network Transparency

Issue
Many insurance plans require people to use providers in the plan’s network, yet the insurer provider directories are often outdated and hold incorrect information. Providers may have moved, are no longer accepting new patients, and directories may not include language or specialty information. Outdated directories can be a huge impediment to those seeking care, especially for children in need of behavioral health care.

Christine’s Plan
This bill would require health plans to regularly update their provider directories to ensure accuracy and comprehensive information. It would also create a task force to understand how to improve the ability for patients to find the right providers

Supported by
This legislation is broadly supported by advocacy groups and health insurance plans. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign, Mass Collaborative, the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts support this legislation, and have worked collaboratively with Christine on this bill. 

 

Emergency Room Access & Safety

Issue
Senator Jehlen and I are working on this bill with Peter DeMarco, who tragically lost his wife Laura when she died of an asthma attack directly outside of the Somerville Hospital Emergency Room. While Somerville Hospital has made important changes, we want to ensure that this never happens again at another site. People in my community and throughout the Commonwealth should feel safe when they are seeking care, and understand how to access emergency care easily. Particularly in an emergency, patients need clear and obvious information about how to get care quickly.

Christine’s Plan
H.1850 would require the Department of Public Health to write and enforce regulations to require all hospitals in the Commonwealth to meet criteria to ensure safe patient care at all times in hospital emergency rooms. This includes signage, lighting, way-finding, and security monitoring of all entrance points, including adding panic buttons and doorbells.