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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2024 Page 19 safeguards I requested to make sure that projects are built safely and sustainable,” said Rep. Steven Xiarhos (R-Barnstable). “Communities across Cape Cod are expressing concern over the possible health, safety, environmental and fi nancial eff ects of these projects. Ultimately, I believe this bill was not in the best interests of the people of the Fifth Barnstable District, who support clean energy generally but who want assurances about the safety of this infrastructure.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Rep. Jessica Giannino Yes Rep. Jeff Turco Yes HEALTH CARE CHANGES (S 2871) Senate 38-2, approved a bill that supporters said includes urgent reforms to the state’s health care system to boost oversight and transparency in the market, improve patient access to prescribed medication and treatment and plug holes in oversight of hospitals, especially for-profi t systems like the bankrupt Steward Health Care. The House has already approved a diff erent version of the measure and a House-Senate conference committee will hammer out a compromise version. Provisions in the Senate version include expanding oversight of private equity fi rms, real estate investment trusts and management services organizations involved with Massachusetts health care providers; requiring a new insurance carrier to honor any prior authorizations approved by a previous carrier for at least 90 days following a patient’s enrollment in the new health plan; establishing a health insurance bureau within the Division of Insurance to conduct rate reviews of premium rates for health benefi t plans and disseminate information to consumers about health insurance coverage; and establishing licensing structures for certain health care providers currently not licensed, and not subject to Department of Public Health oversight, including offi ce-based surgical centers, urgent care centers, and health care practices. “Massachusetts is the health care capital of the world because we take seriously our responsibility to invest in and protect our systems, providers and patients,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “As we stare down a health care market plagued by high costs and the fallout from private equity mismanagement, the Senate has doubled down on our responsibility to our residents, making us a national leader in safeguarding patients, expanding access to car and holding private equity accountable.” “I’m pleased that the Senate has taken an expansive overhaul of the commonwealth’s struggling health care system with this regulatory redress bill,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The collapse of Steward Health Care shows us that it’s now time to reform the system and make transparent the process of costs in relation to services rendered to patients. While Massachusetts is known throughout the world as providing the very best in health care, this legislation will make that care more affordable and accessible.” Sen. Mark Pacheco (D-Taunton), one of two senators to vote against the bill, said that his vote was designed to send a message protesting the lack of action from the Legislature to prepare for the threat the Steward crisis poses to healthcare access in Massachusetts. “Though I support provisions found in this bill, I believe it is important that the Legislature be more proactive as this Steward crisis unfolds,” said Pacheco. “Except for senators who have Steward facilities in their district, there was not an appetite to do that, and that is what led to my ‘no’ vote to protest the lack of protections the Senate bill should have required. This is a message that we are not doing enough to ensure that patients have access to the important care that these facilities should be able to provide.” (A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards Yes DUAL ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS (S 2871) Senate 7-32, rejcted an amendment that would allow dually eligible individuals, also known as duals, who qualify for Medicare and MassHealth, to access care from any specialist or hospital enrolled in Medicare or MassHealth. “The adoption of this amendment would ensure that dually eligible individuals can receive necessary healthcare services without being restricted by provider network limitations,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Mark Pacheco (D-Taunton). “This provision maintains continuity of care, prevents sudden disruptions in services and ensures that duals, who often have long-standing relationships with providers managing their complex health and functional needs, are not forced to lose access due to network disruptions.” Amendment opponents said a separate bill, similar to this amendment, was shipped off to a study committee because there are not yet suffi cient estimates of the cost of the bill and other problem relating to it. Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), the Senate chair of the Committee on Healthcare Financing, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her to comment on her opposition to the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards No FINANCIAL INSOLVENCY (S 2871) Senate 10-30, rejected an amendment that would allow the Executive Branch to take immediate control of a healthcare provider’s assets in cases of the provider’s fi nancial insolvency. The Executive Offi ce of Health and Human Services would also play a part in developing a pathway, through regulations, to stabilize healthcare providers. “We must safeguard the healthcare services our communities rely on, even in the face of fi nancial challenges faced by providers,” said amendment sponsor Sen. Mark Pacheco. “We are in a moment of tremendous uncertainty about the future of Steward Health Care. If Steward hospitals were to close, hundreds of thousands of people in the commonwealth would be at risk of living in a healthcare desert. This crisis goes beyond dollars and cents. It is a matter of life and death.” Pacheco said he will continue to push the Legislature to create a plan in order to protect patients in case negotiations between Steward, the courts and the Executive Branch lead to the closure of facilities. Amendment opponents said the amendment should be rejected because no one has any idea of the cost of the amendment, which they said would be very expensive. Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), the Senate chair of the Committee on Healthcare Financing, did not respond to repeated requests by Beacon Hill Roll Call asking her to comment on her opposition to the amendment. (A “Yes” vote is for the amendment. A “No” vote is against it.) Sen. Lydia Edwards No DRUG COUPONS (S 2871) Senate 6-33, rejected an amendment extending until 2030 the current law, due to expire in 2026, that allows consumers to use coupons to get discounts and rebates when purchasing prescription drugs. In 2012, Massachusetts was the last state to lift a ban on the use of prescription coupons. Amendment supporters said this program helps some consumers to save up to 80 percent of the costs of prescription. They said the program has worked well BEACON | SEE Page 20 How Extreme Heat Affects Seniors: Tips to Stay Safe Dear Savvy Senior, I work for a county health department and every summer we’re seeing more and more seniors get sick and even die from heat-related illiness. Can you write an awarness piece on the aff ects extreme heat has on older adults, and what they can do to guard against this summertime risk. Thanks for helping keep seniors safe! Health Advocate Dear Advocate, Happy to oblige! Most people don’t realize that each year, extreme summertime heat kills more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, fl oods and tornadoescombined. While extreme heat can be deadly for anyone, older adults are uniquely vulnerable because of threekey factors: biological changes that occur with age; higher rates of age-related diseases; and greater use of medications that can alter the body’s response to heat. Here’s how to gauge the risk for a heat-related illness for you or an older loved one and how to stay safe. How Heat Affects Seniors The human body has two main mechanisms to cool itself: sweating and increasing blood fl ow to the skin. In older adults, both of those processes are compromised. Seniors sweat less and they have poor circulation compared with younger people. Chronic health conditions that are more common in old age, most notably cardiovascular disease and diabetes, can also exacerbate these issues. A diseased heart isn’t able to pump as much blood, further reducing blood flow to the skin. And if the nerves become aff ected in people with diabetes, the body might not receive the message that it needs to start sweating. As people age, they also stop feeling as thirsty and so they tend to drink less. In hot conditions, that can cause them to become dehydrated faster. In addition, some older adults, particularly if they have some form of dementia or cognitive decline, may not perceive temperature changes as well. As a result, they won’t respond appropriately to heat, both biologically (through sweating) and behaviorally (by moving to someplace cool). Finally, certain medications many seniors take like diuretics and other high blood pressure drugs can aff ect people’s hydration, blood fl ow and even the sweat response, so be sure to ask your doctor about any medications you’re taking. How to Stay Safe On hot days, older adults and people with serious health conditions should limit outdoor activities like walking and gardening to the cooler mornings and evenings, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water even if you aren’t thirsty. Listen to your body. If the activity starts to feel harder than normal, that’s a signal to stop and fi nd a place to cool down. Signs of dehydration or heat exhaustion include dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, fl ushed face, a racing heart or feeling lethargic. Low energy is especially important to watch out for in people with cognitive impairment, who may not realize how hot they are or be able to express it. If heat exhaustion worsens to a heatstroke, it becomes a lifethreatening emergency. While older adults face unique challenges when it comes to heat, the ways to cool down are the same for any age. If you or a loved one start to experience any of the above symptoms, the best thing you can do is to go somewhere that has air-conditioning. If AC isn’t available in the home, check if there’s a local cooling center. In the absence of air-conditioning, water is extremely helpful in reducing the risk for heat-related injury. Rubbing an ice cube or cold compress over your skin, spraying yourself with cool water or taking a cool shower or bath can also help. For more heat related safety tips, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at CDC.gov/extreme-heat. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

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