Page 2 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, August2, 2019 Senate passes Sen. Lewis’s bill to eliminate ghost networks B OSTON – On July 25 the Massachusetts State Senate voted unanimously to support An Act to increase consumer transparency about insurance provider networks, legislation sponsored by the Senate’s Committee on Ways and Means to eliminate “ghost networks” among Massachusetts health insurers and increase access to mental health care for patients who need it. State Senator Jason Lewis is Assistant 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 Vice Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Ways and Means. Out-of-date and inaccurate health insurance provider directories appear to have a large number of in-network providers. In reality, the number is often much smaller, as providers might have moved, closed their practices, no longer accept new patients or no longer participate in particular health insurance plans. These “ghost networks” are especially challenging for people seeking care for behavioral health conditions: In 2018 the Division of Insurance reported provider directories for behavioral health services listed only 29 percent to 64 percent completely accurate information. “Many families and individuals seeking health care, particularly mental health care, are A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE OPEN: Mon.-Sat. 8 AM - 8 PM Sun. - Holidays: 8 AM - 6 PM (781) 289-4959 GIFT CARDS! 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PRODUCTS Creating Better Days * Nature’s Supplement * All Natural * CBD Infused Products * Edibles * Concentrates * Topicals unable to find a provider that meets their needs because of outdated and unclear provider directories,” said Lewis. “Accurate provider directories are critical to improving access to timely and appropriate care to reduce disparities, to improve health outcomes, and to decrease unnecessary utilization of emergency room and inpatient care. I’m very pleased that the Senate took this important step forward.” For many families and individuals, provider directories are the “front door” to accessing services for behavioral health conditions. Struggling through outdated information and refusals by multiple unavailable providers is exhausting and frightening, leaving patients at risk for clinical deterioration and harm, often ending up with a visit to the emergency room, rather than getting appropriate care when it was needed. This legislation ensures that consumers have the best information available to meet their health needs. An Act to inJason Lewis State Senator crease consumer transparency about insurance provider networks would require insurers’ provider directories to include the most up-to-date list of participating doctors and specialists and their services. The bill also creates a task force to study and recommend further improvements to provider diSENATE | SEE PAGE 3 Encore shares its success with local nonprofits By Barbara Taormina J une was a great month for Encore Boston Harbor, and two Malden nonprofits are now in line to benefit from the casino’s grand opening. The week before Encore officially opened its doors on June 23, the casino held three test nights under the watchful eye of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC), which monitored the practice runs to ensure compliance with state laws and gaming standards and regulations. Encore not only passed the MGC’s tests, the casino took in $669,000 during the three-night trial run. Encore now plans to divide that money among six local nonprofit organizations: Malden’s Bread of Life, the Malden YMCA, Everett Community Schools, the Mystic River Watershed Association, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. Encore will cut checks for $111,503 for each of the six organizations. “Giving back to the communities in which we live and work is a large part of who we are as a company,” said Encore Boston Harbor President Robert DeSalvio in a press release announcing the donations. “We are humbled that our friends and families came out in droves to support the opening of Encore Boston Harbor and helped us create an opportunity to make a meaningful impact with these worthy local organizations.” Wynn Resorts, which operates Encore Boston Harbor, has highlighted its support for surrounding communities, its charitable giving and projects and goals to benefit the region. Over the next 15 years, Encore will pay $574 million to its host and surrounding communities with $485 million going to Everett, $32 million pledged to Boston and $57 million to be shared among Malden, Medford, Somerville, Chelsea and Cambridge. Wynn has also committed to donating $10 million to local civic organizations over the next four years. While a lot of money is going out to support communities and nonprofit organizations, Encore is also taking in a lot of cash from gamblers and guests. Encore reported earnings of nearly $16.8 million during its first week in business. According to Card Player, a popular online poker magazine, $9.12 million of Encore’s earnings came from gamblers feeding the casino’s 3,150 slot machines. Losses at the gaming tables brought in the remaining $7.67 million. Municipalities and nonprofit organizations were not the only ones to benefit from Encore’s successful opening. According to Card Player, at the end of June, the Commonwealth collected $4.2 million in taxes from the casino.
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