Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Grace Ross: Real Healthcare Action

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I specifically asked legislators to file three pieces of cost-plus-quality control legislation – including a state public option for residents and small businesses first filed in 2007. I also worked on legislation to cap non-medical uses of our insurance dollars, uniform billing and bulk-purchasing of drugs. I have also continued to work in broad coalition with others on enhanced Medicare-for-all/single-payer – the type of systems that keep the cost of medical care at half or less than what we pay per person.

But the Governor has never supported Medicare-for-all/single-payer legislation and has himself been missing in action on all these other initiatives.

Most egregiously, however, Governor Patrick promised one major piece of cost control policy when he ran four years ago: Bulk purchasing of prescription drugs. He has not made it happen

I and other leaders at MassCare actually worked out specific implementation of such a policy for his administration and have met with a number of key players in his administration to secure implementation in the last two years.

Governor Patrick only needed to get the agencies in his own administration to work together for all the state health programs to bulk purchase drugs. The legislature had already passed bulk purchasing legislation into law before his inauguration. We provided the detailed mechanism and talked to all the concerned parties in the administration.

In three years, he has not implemented his one campaign promise to control costs. There was even an oversight hearing in the legislature two weeks ago asking key administration players why they have not implemented the existing state law. All he had to do was implement the law.

Meanwhile, working together the Legislature and I and others got uniform billing passed. Numerous other initiatives are pending. And while the long-term funding for the present Massachusetts Plan is in question, our work towards a real cost control system called enhanced Medicare for All or single-payer continues inside and outside the State House.

We have to stop the campaign game of pointing blame and actually be part of enacting solutions; we have to actually recognize that governing is about working as one of three branches of government – and passing key legislation that addresses the needs of the people in this state.

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Comments

  1. The only way to get real healthcare reform that really happens, you must support a candidate that supports real healthcare reform.

  3. First, thank you, Grace, for posting and for your work on these issues.

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    p>I am wondering why the Governor hasn’t done more about bulk drug purchasing. I came up with the following possibilities:

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    p>1. too busy with other priorities
    2. did not want to cross campaign contributors
    3. did not want to drive pharma/medical industry companies out of state
    4. did not want to cross the President, who apparently made a deal with pharma last year

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    p>If I had to choose, I would guess #3. The Governor and citizenry need the jobs. The dreadful unemployment numbers allow corporations to play states against each other, getting concessions in return for an unspecified number of jobs. This suggests that it would be more effective to address this issue at the national level. It would be nice if the Governor would push for that.

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    p>Did the Governor’s representatives offer an explanation at the oversight hearing mentioned in the original post?

  4. …but this is a Democratic candidate for governor issuing a notable policy statement.  I hope that this is either promoted to the front page, or this site is renamed “Blue Deval Group”.

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    p>(Before the defenders get oiled up, I’m on record for planning to vote for Deval in the primary.)

  5. Whose health care plan do you support?
    Deval: Cap health care cost increases to 3-4% of their current rates.

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    p>Grace: Reduce health care costs, uniform billing, public option and implementation of the bulk purchase of drugs already passed by the legislature.

  6. You raise very good points, and points about which myself, and others, have real concerns.

  7. Hopefully you are available to answer questions.  

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    p>I understand the universal health care position, Patrick supports that position as well.  I also know that you, Patrick or anyone else will not be able to provide it.  So that’s a non-starter for me personally.

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    p>Bulk purchasing of prescription drugs, my question is what is the impact of doing this for the state.  Did you get any feedback from the administration of the benefits and cost savings?  How much money are we talking about?  Plus what are the limitations in doing bulk purchasing?  I know smaller groups have fought it within the state.

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    p>As a side note, the Legislature passed this ability in 1999, bulk purchasing is not new, Weld, Cellucci, Swift, Romney all have the option of doing this but declined to do so.  Yes, there is a certain candidate that ran HHS and the budget in a few of those administrations who did not go after bulk purchasing cough Baker cough.  Why?

    • Our health care system is causing thousands of unnecessary deaths every year, and devastating our economy.
      So why are our leaders only arguing about whether its 30 mil or 27 mil uncovered Americans and offering inadequate solutions?

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      p>Because even though the polls suggest voters want a Medicare-for-all or a public option, we keep supporting candidates who do not. Deval does not.

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      p>How is it impossible John when that is what the voters want – in a state that is completely controlled by Democrats?

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      p>Maybe its because no one is demanding it.

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      p>If everyone who supports real health care reform only supports candidates that support real health care reform, then the candidates will follow.  

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      p>If you support someone who does not support health care reform, do not be surprised when it doesn’t happen.

      • that he does not support universal care.  You can’t because it never happened.

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        p>Hopefully Grace Ross will address some questions, she opened the dialog.  If this is an opportunity for a cheap attack then I would have issue with Ms. Ross’ use of the site in her campaign.  My sense is that she will respond.

        • please send a link to any action Deval has taken to advance single payer or the public option.
          Deval has actually made cuts to health care and not taken actions to rein in costs and the bulk purchase of drugs that the legislature has provided for.

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          p>Being a Democrat is  not about having a D after your name, its moving forward Democrat issues.
          Voters are angry and abandoning the Democrat Party that has been their voice for decades, because of a lack of action that matches the rhetoric. This will snowball if the party does not move forward on its promises.

          • And if I am right that Sue is right, do we really want “more Scott Browns” because the blue collar world is actually experiencing a worse depression that the 1930s and doesn’t feel like “help is on the way”?

            • First, Democrat Party?  Really?

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              p>Second, Sue can defect all she wants, I am posing some questions to Grace Ross on the bulk purchase of prescription drugs and would probably want to know more about the legislation that she is referencing in her post.

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              p>What I’m looking for are specifics, and would probably counter with additional questions so that we can flesh out what is going on and heaven forbid, a real discussion on specifics on some health care issues that she brought up here.

              • Thanks for questions. I am happy to answer but I also want to be realistic. Running for statewide office does not leave lots of time for blogging.

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                p>Here is what I can answer quickly.

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                p>I was specifically talking about universal access/choice healthcare which is cheaper than what we have – this is referred to as Medicare for All/Single-payer. Deval has been explicit that he does not support this. He hinted at this four years ago in public forums. He was explicit when we were asked at the debate in the Berkshires, in Great Barrington; he said (this is close to the direct quote) that he understood that others were ready for single-payer but he was not. He has so far been consistent in that position to my knowledge. Unless you have a reversal from him somewhere that has been his stated position.

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                p>Bulk purchasing of drugs saves money – it is why Massachusetts residents continue to go to Canada which gets drugs at much cheaper rates. In fact, Deval argued that along with the rest of us health care advocates. It was passed in 1999 and again 2001, I believe submitted by Senator Montigny and with the advocacy of MassPIRG.

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                p>Presumably we don’t get cheaper drugs for the same reason we don’t get cost-controlled health coverage – some corporations would not make as much money. But I still maintain the purpose of government is for the people, not the corporations.

                • during the campaign.  

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                  p>But what I don’t know is what the savings are.  I’m guessing you are talking about Medicaid drug purchasing?  Is that correct?  We already do some bulk purchasing for hospitals, but stocking a hospital pharmacy is a lot easier than doing prescriptions like CVS.  

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                  p>I really don’t know the specifics.  

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                  p>If my Medicaid assumption is correct, how would Medicaid bulk purchasing help the folks going to Canada?

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                  p>As for the public option, for the Berkshire Eagle:

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                  p>

                  Gov. Deval Patrick says he wishes Massachusetts, home of the nation’s most ambitious health care law, had one more tool in its kit — a public option.

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                  p>Thanks for responding.

                • A few more details…

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                  p>The greater the purchasing pool the greater the savings. The legislation which was passed was for bulk purchasing of drugs by all the healthcare programs run by the state – Medicaid, the prisons, Group Insurance Commission, etc.

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                  p>There is another bill I as part of MassCare have been working on which would allow all Massachusetts insurance plans to bulk purchase drugs – not sure where in the legislative process that is now (also sponsored by Montigny)

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                  p>Senator Tolman filed for me a public option bill which I wrote in 2007 (it included a buy-in for residents and ALSO small businesses).

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                  p>If Deval wants to help me move the legislation I have already filed, I’d be happy to hear from him. I find taking action more satisfying than wishing for something.

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                  p>Thanks, Grace

  8. The relatively tepid response to this diary indicates something.  Perhaps someone (else) would be willing to  elaborate on what that is?  

    • 1-There isn’t much of a Ross campaign out there.  No events, major statements (other than this), organization, decent website, media appearances, etc.  This statement is issues in a partial vacuum.  She hasn’t yet gathered the air of a candidate with the potential to alter this race.

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      p>2-Many people on this site are very happy with #1, and would like it to stay that way, especially as Ms. Ross asks some awkward questions that set supporting progressive politics against supporting the governor.

      • I’d suggest there’s also:
        3) this diary was posted yesterday but (assuming the time showing up in my feed reader is correct) frontpaged today, Friday, at about 4pm.  I’m sure this isn’t true for everyone, but personally, my will for detailed political discussion is generally pretty well exhausted by that time of the week, and my thoughts have turned to delicious single-malt whisky.

        • …that posting/promoting diaries Friday afternoon often means waiting until after the weekend for significant activity on them.

        • One incident is a bit low for spotting a trend.  If this happens with Ross or her supporters several times, I’ll be concerned.  But I’ll give the Editors a pass for one time.

  9. It is our duty now to begin to lay the plans and determine the strategy for the winning of a lasting peace and the establishment of an American standard of living higher than ever before known. We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people-whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth-is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed, and insecure.
    This Republic had its beginning, and grew to its present strength, under the protection of certain inalienable political rights-among them the right of free speech, free press, free worship, trial by jury, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. They were our rights to life and liberty.
    As our nation has grown in size and stature, however-as our industrial economy expanded-these political rights proved inadequate to assure us equality in the pursuit of happiness.
    We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. “Necessitous men are not free men.” People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.
    In our day these economic truths have become accepted as self-evident. We have accepted, so to speak, a second Bill of Rights under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all-regardless of station, race, or creed.
    Among these are:
    The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;
    The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;
    The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;
    The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;
    The right of every family to a decent home;
    The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;
    The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;
    The right to a good education.
    All of these rights spell security. (portion omitted)
    America’s own rightful place in the world depends in large part upon how fully these and similar rights have been carried into practice for our citizens.
    ______________________________________
    source: The Public Papers & Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt (Samuel Rosenman, ed.), Vol XIII (NY: Harper, 1950), 40-42

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    p>When did we lose sight of the importance of ourn shops, or farms, our mines, and our factories, and the importance of broad-based economic security as part of the “job” of government?  There cannot be political security without economic security.

    • I love this speech fragment, Deborah, thanks for posting.

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      p>As for presence, yes, the campaign is in early stages and we welcome lots more volunteers. We continue to update and improve the website – more soon.

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      p>On the other hand, as for appearances, we are averaging over three per day including, for instance, our first day at the state AFL-CIO conference which Cahill attended but the Governor did not.

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      p>Watch, we are on the upswing. Not a millionaire, I cannot simply drop a couple of hundred thousand dollars into a campaign fund to jump start things like others running.

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      p>I suspect, however, that the time may have come when the voters of Massachusetts will appreciate 1) a candidate who shares the same struggles in this terrible economy and 2) brings more experience working with others to pass legislation to improve our lives than the other candidates (about 25 years worth).

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      p>See you on the trail. I’ll post when I can.  

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