From: Debby Blumer, State Representative Subject: News and Notes Date: January 6, 2003
I hope that everyone has a wonderful healthy New Year! We spent New Year's Day at the State House to participate in ceremonies starting the new session of the Legislature. It is an honor to serve as a State Representative and I do appreciate your support for my election and reelection. It was particularly wonderful to host our granddaughter Alison, who shared a chair with me on the floor of the House chamber. Hope that encourages her future interest in public service. Topics for this issue: Prescription Drugs Gift Certificates "Do Not Call" Registry Staying informed about the State House MetroWest Health, Inc. Local Martin Luther King Day events Open Office Hours - January 16th PRESCRIPTION DRUGS As part of budget decisions on health care last summer, the Governor and the Legislature authorized an assessment on pharmacies based on the volume of non-Medicaid/non-Medicare prescription drugs sold, with fees and regulations to be determined by the administration. This step was taken to gain matching federal funds to offset increased medication costs for low income residents of our state. Neither the law nor the regulations require pharmacies to pass on the assessment ($1.30 per affected prescription, which may be reduced in the future); companies like Walgreen's are charging customers. [I note that BJ's has stated it will not pass costs to customers and that out-of-of state pharmacies are not subject to the assessment.]. I have talked with a number of people from various state agencies about possible options. The Mass. Division of Health Care Finance's just published a Q &A you can access: http://www.state.ma.us/dhcfp/pages/dhcfp224.htm. We have more detail regarding Medicare, where there is some confusion about what customers or drugs are affected. If you have individual questions, please feel free to call me, the SHINE program via the Callahan Center, or the state's SHINE help line 1-800-882-2003 I, of course, recognize that this may place another burden on customers struggling to pay for drugs. For the longer term, Representative Jehlen, Senator Montigny, Mass. Senior Action and I filed the Massachusetts Fair Pricing Act (Docket#2571) to address drug costs. This legislation proposes a comprehensive cost containment strategy, includes bulk purchasing, and creates a discount card for Massachusetts residents. If you would like more information, let us know. We'll need a good deal of help to pass this legislation AND make sure it is properly implemented. "DO NOT CALL" REGISTRY The "Do Not Call" Registry, established by the Legislature in 2002, is up and running! If you would like to stop telemarketers from calling your home, please sign up here: http://www.mass.gov/donotcall GIFT CERTIFICATES Did you receive gift certificates during the holidays? Last Monday, the Legislature passed a bill giving you seven years to use them. Currently, most gift certificates expire after two years. Undated gift certificates issued in the past are good indefinitely. STATE HOUSE NEWS State House News offers a free Weekly Roundup, summarizing the week's events and politics at the State House. If you'd like to be on the mailing list for the Weekly Roundup, please send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED], placing "Please Send Roundup" in the subject line. To get a taste of the news, check out: http://www.statehousenews.com/ METROWEST MEDICAL CENTER and METROWEST HEALTH, INC. MetroWest Health Inc. will host a community hearing on retaining or selling its 20.2% share of the medical center (Framingham Union and Leonard Morse) on January 14, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. at Plymouth Church on Edgell Road. The following is some background information: In accord with prior legal agreements, Tenet Healthcare Corporation will pay $20.2 Million for the 20.2% share if sold prior to April 30, 2003. After that point, there is no guaranteed value. The MW Health Inc partial ownership allows it to veto the appointment of the CEO and CFO of the medical center, to appoint 6 of 12 members of a local governing board, and to monitor aspects of health care quality and staff privileges. The local governing board has no control over operating budgets or hospital policy. If MW Health Inc. sells its interest, there will still be a local governing board and community input, in accord with both state and national accreditation standards as well as specific agreements between the Medical Center and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Based on prior legal agreements and court determinations, the proceeds from the sale will go to MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, which was established to receive hospital related assets. The Foundation will provide approximately $1 Million per year in grants to non-profit organizations and municipalities in the MetroWest region from these added funds. Since its establishment in 1999-2000, the Foundation has provided more than $5 Million to support health-related programs and services. The public is welcome to discuss ideas on how community resources can best be used to meet all the health care acre needs of residents -- emergency and acute care, as well as primary care, health services for low-income residents, mental health and substance abuse services, oral health care, school health services and other topics. MARTIN LUTHER KING EVENTS On Saturday, January 18th from 7 to 9PM, Grace Church will hold its sixth annual Martin Luther King Concert. Tickets are available at the Church or at Center Music ($12). On Monday, January 20th at 8:00AM, at the Sheraton Tara, the Greater Framingham Community Church will host its annual M.L.King breakfast. Tickets are available from the church. STOP BY AND CHAT ON THURSDAY, JAN. 16TH Come to office hours on Thursday, January 16th at 9AM at the Callahan Senior Center. If that's not a good time for you, please email or call me at (617) 722-2400 or (508) 879-0658. Debby
