BOSTICA | FROM PAGE 2 Page 10 Cogliano said the board isn’t in a position to ask important questions. “We’re so far away from sitting down and holding hearings,” Cogliano said. “We don’t know what we’re looking for,” he said. Board of Selectmen ViceChair Debra Panetta said she had talked to Town Counsel John Vasapolli, who advised her that it was “okay” for selectmen to attend the meeting “as long as we don’t deliberate.” Selectmen were able to use the meeting as experience on what to expect and how to evaluate future applications. They also learned something about the rigorous regulations that companies have to comply with if they want to sell marijuana products in Saugus. Capano briefed selectmen with a PowerPoint demonstration that summarized community benefi ts, history of the company, the parking plan, the delivery of the product, the dispensing procedures, security at the store, security procedures involving employees, storage of the product and many other facets THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 of the marijuana business. Capano noted the community benefi ts Saugus will realize, including: • The company will give local hiring preferences to Saugus residents. • There is a potential to create 25 new jobs at the store. • The company wants to be a good neighbor by making charitable contributions throughout the town. • The town is in a position to receive 17 percent sales tax for all adult-use cannabis transactions. • The town could also benefi t from a three percent local sales tax for all adult-use cannabis transactions. The company would go to extraordinary lengths to transport the marijuana product to Saugus. Each vehicle would have a minimum of two agents, one of them remaining in the vehicle at all times. Bostica would only transport marijuana between its licensed marijuana establishments and by its registered marijuana agents. The company would use randomized delivery routes and times. Access to the Bostica facility would be limited to people BOSTICA | SEE PAGE 17 We don’t just make deals. We make it happen. O f Saugus, entered into eternal rest Wednesday, June 29, 2022 in the St. Elizabeth Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family. Known to many as “Uncle Bobby .” Predeceased by his loving parents Albert Sr. and Gilda Cocorochio. Loving father to Robert Cocorochio Jr. of Fontana, Calf. Devoted brother to Albert Jr. of Tennessee and sister Roberta Papadopoulos and her husband Phil of Foxboro, Mass. Loving uncle and great uncle to several nieces and nephews . Cousin to many and nephew to a remaining Aunt Marie of Peabody. He was born in Malden, Mass. Moved from Everett in 1956 to Saugus. He attended business school 419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 Member FDIC Member DIF and continued his career in accounting for the United States Army during the Vietnam War. Rep. Wong supports legislation to empower patients in their medical treatment decisions B OSTON — State Representative Donald H. Wong (R- Saugus) recently voted to support legislation that will give patients more of a say in pursuing a specific course of medical treatment recommended by their doctor rather than by their insurance company. House Bill 4929, An Act relative to step therapy and patient safety, was engrossed by the House of Representatives on a vote of 153-0 on June 29. Representative Wong said House Bill 4929 will protect consumers from an insurance practice known as step therapy, or “fail fi rst”, which mandates that a patient must fi rst try one or more preferred treatments dictated by an insurance company before they can be covered for a specifi c treatment recommended by a clinician. Although the bill does not ban step therapy, it calls for greater transparency by providing patients with the ability to request an exemption and the right to a speedy appeals process. The House bill outlines four specifi c circumstances under which a patient appeal can be triggered, including instances where: • the required treatment will harm the patient; • the required treatment is expected to be ineff ective; • the patient previously tried the required treatment, or a similar treatment, and it proved to be ineff ective or harmed the patient; or • the patient is stable on a current treatment and switching treatments will harm the patient According to Representative Wong, House Bill 4929 requires MassHealth and commercial insurers to provide “continuity of coverage” to patients so they can continue to receive their clinician-preferred method of treatment while their request for a step therapy exemption is reviewed. The bill also requires that a step therapy exemption request be approved or denied within three business days but mandates a decision within one business day if a delay would cause harm to the patient. It also provides for an appeals process if a patient’s request for an exemption is denied. Under House Bill 4929, commercial carriers will be required to fi le an annual report with the state’s Division of Insurance detailing data related to step therapy exemption requests and related coverage determinations. The bill also calls for the creation of a step therapy protocols commission that will study and assess the implementation of step therapy reforms recommended in House Bill 4929, and will fi le a report by October 1 in every even-numbered year with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Representative Wong noted that 30 other states already have some form of step therapy protocols in place to protect patients, including Connecticut, Maine and New York. House Bill 4929 now moves to the Senate for its consideration. OBITUARIES Robert Thomas Cocorochio April 9, 1946 – June 29, 2022 After his honorable discharge he pursued a career with Bank Of Boston as a fi nancial analyst. He lived in California for many years enjoying beaches and sunshine he loved. He met his wife Patti there and from their love came a beautiful son Robert Jr. who was the joy of his life. He moved back to Saugus to live with and care for his mother after his father passed in 1985. After early retirement from Bank of Boston he pursued a career working at Pizzigando Cafe and Hotstone Pizza where he was known, loved and befriended by many for over 20 years. He loved every small detail of life. The beauty of nature, music, traveling, and his family. He was a huge Boston sports fan and was in his glory when by chance at least 3 teams were playing at the same time. There are no words to describe how much he will missed. We pray for the void in our hearts to be healed and we thank everyone for their support and prayers during our needs and his short illness. Bob was laid to rest at St. Michael Cemetery, Forest Hills.
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