Op-Ed: Keep the public involved, Patrick

by David Tebaldi
Boston Globe Op-Ed

December 30, 2006...Governor-elect Deval Patrick deserves commendation for making civic engagement a centerpiece of his candidacy -- and for practicing what he preaches by convening 15 working groups that organized public hearings on critical issues during his transition.

The hearings were hastily organized, often rudderless affairs, but thousands took advantage of that opportunity and the transition team's website to weigh in on matters of importance to them. Nothing like this had ever been attempted before. It was a bold gesture and a constructive exercise toward true participatory democracy. 

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Editorial: What's with this health law?

December 29, 2006...It's been an extraordinary year for health care in Massachusetts, with the approval of landmark legislation that makes the state a pathfinder toward near-universal health insurance coverage for its residents. The law mandates that everyone obtain insurance, establishes a new authority to manage the insurance programs, and has already expanded coverage to thousands of people. Yet most of those who will be affected by the law have yet to feel its impact. Here are some frequently asked questions (and answers) on what individuals and businesses can expect during 2007. 

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Governor-elect Patrick to restore $383 Million in "9C" budget cuts

December 27, 2006 - Governor-elect Deval Patrick today announced that he will restore $383 million in cuts made recently by Governor Romney, including significant cuts to public higher education, social service programs, public safety, and early education and care.

“After a comprehensive review of the current budget and recent revenue performance, I have decided to restore the ‘9C cuts’ in their entirety when I take office next month,” Governor-elect Patrick said. “Overwhelmingly, these broad-based cuts, especially coming mid-year, have a serious negative impact on thousands of Massachusetts residents who have planned for the relief and relied upon the services these programs provide.” 

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Protect yourself from medication errors with “Med List”

December 27, 2006...Earlier this year, the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine issued a report entitled, “Preventing Medication Errors.” The report concluded that “the most powerful strategy for improving safety may be motivating providers and organizations to support the full engagement of patients and surrogates in improving the safety of medication use.” 

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Conference Committee releases Junior Operator Bill

December 26, 2006...A joint Senate-House Conference Committee today released a compromise version of a bill further regulations driver education and licensing for junior operators today. 

New Massachusetts program aids dying children and their families

December 26, 2006...While much of the publicity accompanying passage of the landmark Massachusetts Health Reform Law is focused on the state’s efforts to reduce the number of residents without access to affordable health insurance, several features of the legislation are aimed at improving the health care system. Among those improvements now being implemented is a program to help terminally ill children and their families that’s called the “Pediatric Palliative Care Program.” 

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Blackstone Valley communities selected for regional Heritage Landscape survey

December 20, 2006...The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc. informed Sen. Moore that nine towns in his district have been chosen to participate in DCR’s Heritage Landscape Inventory Program. The program is part of DCR’s Historic Landscape Preservation Initiative, which sponsors special initiatives and offers technical assistance and training to support the preservation of historically significant landscapes throughout the state. 

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Sen. Moore releases his health care priorities for the 2007-2008 Session

December 19, 2006...As the legislature wraps up the 2005-2006 session, lawmakers are busy preparing their legislative agendas for the new session that begins on Jan. 3, 2007. Today, Sen. Moore, Senate Chair of the Health Care Financing Committee, highlighted his health care priorities for 2007-2008. He said he intends to file legislation in January to address each of the goals and will be seeking the support of his colleagues. 

Read more | Senator Moore's Health Care Priorities for 2007-2008

Blackstone Student in Senator’s “Shadow”

December 18, 2006...While other students chose jobs in the Blackstone area as part of this year’s Blackstone-Millville Job Shadow Day, one student set his sights on a potential career in public service on Boston’s Beacon Hill. Douglas Roberge, a sophomore at Blackstone-Millville Regional High School, and member of the Chargers Varsity Basketball team, contacted Senator Moore to “shadow” the veteran lawmaker. Senator Moore, who has a long record of promoting civic education and encouraging young people to consider public service readily accepted. 

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Mass. health plan drawing interest as model for US Universal care issue reemerges

By Susan Milligan
Boston Globe

December 18, 2006...Universal healthcare, an issue the White House and Congress have largely abandoned since the early 1990s, has reemerged as an issue on Capitol Hill and around the country, with lawmakers looking to Massachusetts' landmark plan as a political and structural model for the nation's 46 million uninsured. 

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Senior Whole Health comes to Worcester Area

December 18, 2006...Senator Moore and Senior Whole Health (SWH), a new health care plan that is dedicated to ensuring low-income seniors maintain their independence, announced last week that the organization is making a major commitment to Worcester-area residents. Joining them for this announcement will be Jennifer Davis Carey, Secretary of the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. 

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Senator Moore awarded by Prevent Blindness Massachusetts

December 13, 2006...The Prevent Blindness Massachusetts presented Senator Moore with the 2006 “Person of Vision” award for his commitment to improving eye health in the Commonwealth; for drafting and passing legislation that brings health care insurance to all residents in the state and for welcoming Prevent Blindness to conduct Free Vision Screening and Education Day in his district. 

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Senator Moore discusses health care, future challenges on NECN

December 11, 2006...Tonight, Senator Moore appeared live on NECN's "NewsNight With Jim Braude" to talk about the implementation of the state's landmark health care reform law and other challenges facing the incoming Patrick Administration. 

Watch the video

The rock stars of universal coverage

By Jeffrey Krasner
Boston Globe

December 5, 2006...Until he helped craft the state's groundbreaking healthcare overhaul law, state Senator Richard T. Moore wasn't exactly in demand as a national speaker.

Now the six-term Uxbridge Democrat is a healthcare policy celebrity, traveling the country to explain the state's effort to extend health coverage to uninsured residents. He has appeared before legislators, think tanks, physicians groups, and business associations. Just last Thursday he spoke at a conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., organized by a foundation that focuses on healthcare issues. 

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