THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2021 Page 5 House passes legislation to balance health care market, protect vulnerable hospitals O n November 17, 2021, to protect community hospitals, State Representative Joseph McGonagle and his Massachusetts House colleagues recently passed (1581) H.4262, An Act enhancing the market review process, to promote a more balanced health care market by strengthening the regulatory processes for health care expansions. The legislation creates a more rigorous review to ensure that when large hospital systems expand, they are not infringing on community hospital markets and raising health care costs for patients. It also requires the ongoing upkeep of a health resource inventory, which will give regulators a better understanding of the Commonwealth’s existing health care resources to inform these reHANUKKAH | FROM PAGE 3 Once they declared victory, the Maccabees wanted to light the Menorah in the Temple courtyard. “The problem was you needed a special, ritually pure oil to light the MeOMICRON | FROM PAGE 2 how well our vaccines work against this variant.” Dr. Shira Doron, an Infectious Disease physician and epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center, said Delta continues to attract a great deal of attention. “Delta is a major threat in Massachusetts and for the time being, a far greater one. We do not yet know if Omicron is more deadly, more transmissible or more easily evades immunity than Delta,” she said. “If it does any of those things and if it manages to outcompete Delta and become predominant, then it could mean a worse winter than what we are view processes and future reform efforts. H.4262 now goes to the Senate. “The House took a major step in working to guarantee that every Massachusetts resident has access to quality, affordable health care by passing legislation that will protect community hospitals,” said Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano. “Community hospitals offer high-quality care to the most vulnerable patient populations at affordable rates. Our efforts to control health care cost growth depends on their continued existence.” The legislation continues the House’s commitment to health care as demonstrated in Massachusetts’s health care reform law of 2006 and the landmark cost containment law of 2012. Community hospitals opernorah,” said Baron, adding that the Greeks had destroyed the oil flasks. “They calculated that it would take eight days to make new oil.” However, one of the Maccabees discovered a lone oil flask which had somehow already facing. What everyone should do now is get vaccinated if they have not received the vaccine. If eligible for a booster, now is the time to get one.” Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the Infectious Diseases Division at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, shared a different opinion, saying it is likely that Omicron is already in Massachusetts. “I’m sure it’s here,” he said. Kuritzkes said he was very surprised to learn that the new variant had been detected in Australia, which has extremely tight COVID-19 restrictions. “It’s highly mutated,” he said of Omicron. “This is why people need to get vaccinated.” Lawrence A. Simeone Jr. Attorney-at-Law ~ Since 1989 ~ * Corporate Litigation * Criminal/Civil * MCAD * Zoning/Land Court * Wetlands Litigation * Workmen’s Compensation * Landlord/Tenant Litigation * Real Estate Law * Construction Litigation * Tax Lein * Personal Injury * Bankruptcy * Wrongful Death * Zoning/Permitting Litigation 300 Broadway, Suite 1, Revere * 781-286-1560 Lsimeonejr@simeonelaw.net health care market. “I am thrilled with this bill Joseph McGonagle State Representative ate on thin margins and with the constant possibility of closure. H.4262 limits unchecked growth of hospital chains, better suiting community hospitals to survive and ensuring continued competition in the gone untouched. The oil was lit and it burned for the following eight nights. “When kindness prevails over darkness, that’s when miracles happen and that’s and very proud we passed it amidst an ongoing healthcare crisis,” said McGonagle. “Our hospitals, healthcare facilities and their workers have continued to work courageously and tirelessly, not just against COVID-19, but also all the other everyday medical needs of the Commonwealth. In Everett, many of us rely on our community hospital, which is always in danger of being overtaken. This legislation will support our community hospitals and keep Everett safe, strong and healthy.” An Act enhancing the market review process: • Expands and strengthens the material change notice (MCN) process of the Health Policy Commission (HPC) to include a broader range of transthe message of Hanukkah,” said Baron. Deanna Deveney, the city’s communications director, spoke on behalf of Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “Hanukkah is a actions and give cost and market impact reviews (CMIRs) more weight in the Determination of Need (DoN) and Attorney General (AGO) proceedings • Requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to consider additional sources of information, including CMIRs and Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) data, as part of the DoN process • Re-establishes a health planning council that will assist DPH in maintaining an inventory of health care resources to inform the MCN process and better assess the appropriateness of DoN applications • Protects independent community hospitals’ markets and gives hospitals another tool to halt DoN proceedings should a proposed project encroach on their primary service area. time to find light in the darkness,” she said. “May each light represent that our future is bright and our community will persevere through darkness.”
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