Summer 2016
HPC In the News
Abby Goodnough
June 20, 2016

WGBH
June 16, 2016

Commonwealth Magazine
June 9, 2016

Boston Globe
June  7, 2016

Mass. is leader in efforts to rein in soaring drug prices
Boston Globe
June 6, 2016
 
Boston Globe
May 28, 2016

Commission wraps up health pricing discussions
Commonwealth Magazine
May 19, 2016

Massive health care market change inches closer to reality
Boston Business Journal
May 19, 2016

HealthAffairs Blog
May 12, 2016

Certification Program
Please also note that the HPC is accepting applications for PCMH PRIME, a certification program developed in collaboration with the NCQA to reward practices with a strong commitment to behavioral health integration. Please do not hesitate to contact  the HPC with any questions.
AcademyHealth Annual Research Conference
HPC presented seven posters at the 2016 AcademyHealth Annual Conference. These posters reflect the incredible breadth and depth of research and policy work conducted by the HPC.  Please find links to the HPC's posters below. 
Job Opportunities
The HPC is currently accepting applications for:

Fall 2016 Interns
 
Click here for more information.
Keep in Touch
Be sure to  Visit our Website and follow us on Twitter to get the most timely information. 

 

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Welcome! 
Executive Director David Seltz provides an update on upcoming work at the HPC
The HPC's work continues at a rapid pace as we move into July. Of particular note, the July meeting of the HPC's Board - the last of the summer - will have a jam-packed agenda.  The culmination of over a year of collective HPC work, the meeting will include the consideration of: 1) investment awards for the HPC's three new health care innovation programs, 2) the release of preliminary cost and market impact reviews , and 3) the HPC's FY2017 operating budget. The meeting will be held at a special time (1:00 PM - 4:30 PM) to accommodate the important items the Board will discuss and consider. I hope you can attend.
 
Aside from the July 27 Board meeting, staff are focused on the upcoming Cost Trends Hearing , including the preparation of pre-filed testimony requests. In response to stakeholder feedback, this year's pre-filed testimony questions will be released nearly a month earlier than previous years, allowing six weeks for completion. Selected organizations should anticipate pre-filed testimony via email by July 8, 2016. All testimony will be posted on the HPC's website as it is submitted. Testimony from 2013 , 2014 , and 2015 is available on the HPC's website. Please email HPC-Testimony@state.ma.us with any questions. 
 
I look forward to engaging with you at our upcoming public events. Thank you for your continued engagement in our work. Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday weekend!

Regards,
David Seltz
Executive Director
CHART Learnings: Hallmark Health System
Carol Plotkin, LICSW, Executive Director for the  Collaborative Outreach and Adaptable Care at Hallmark Health (COACHH) program , presented to the HPC's Quality Improvement and Patient Protection (QIPP) committee on June 22, 2016 to discuss the COACHH program's efforts to intervene on the opioid epidemic at a local level. In CHART Phase 2, Hallmark Health identified three target population cohorts: patients with ten or more ED visits in the last 12 months; ED patients requiring a Narcan reversal; and obstetric patients with a substance use disorder (SUD). Hallmark Health seeks to reduce ED utilization as a primary aim, with secondary aims to increase post-ED contact with patients following an opioid overdose and provide at least one contact per week for obstetric patients with SUD. 

In an effort to improve care for COACHH patients, the team - comprised social workers, community health workers, physician consultants, a nurse practitioner, and a pharmacist - endeavors to de-medicalize treatment for its target population, provide longitudinal interventions (versus episodic), and push, rather than pull, support and interventions to patients. Nearly all COACHH services are provided outside of the hospital in the community. Target population patients are contacted within 48 hours of discharge, receive weekly phone calls and/or home visits, and are delivered services that are tailored to individual patient needs. 

Early findings reveal that both clinical and social drivers lead to inappropriate hospital utilization, including SUD, serious and persistent mental illness, chronic pain, social isolation, poverty, and poorly coordinated care. Many patients within the target population do not use acute care services solely for medical issues; rather, patients may visit the ED as a means to social engagement or to meet basic needs (e.g., food, shelter, hygiene). Ms. Plotkin referred to the process of understanding and meeting these needs as "thawing treatment freeze;" the COACHH team encourages Hallmark Health clinicians to eliminate preconceived judgements about patients and their courses of treatment to inspire creativity and, in turn, improved support and interventions. Rather than playing "kick the can" with patients with social or medical complexity, the COACHH team takes the necessary ownership of these patients to increase appropriate utilization of services and improve care.

With the help of highly engaged staff and leadership and community support, the COACHH program is making strides to reverse the system failure experienced by these patients and improve the quality and efficiency of care delivered. QIPP committee members and HPC staff were pleased to learn about the important work being done by the COACHH team at Hallmark Health System. Ms. Plotkin's presentation can be found  here .
HPC Event: 2016 Cost Trends Hearing
On October 17 and 18, 2016, the HPC will host the 2016 Health Care Cost Trends HearingState and national policymakers and researchers will convene to focus their attention on the challenges and opportunities in the Commonwealth's health care sector. This prominent two-day public hearing features live testimony from top health care executives and industry leaders.  The public hearing format allows the Commonwealth's health care experts to question these key stakeholders about the state's performance under the Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark and other health care reform efforts. A full agenda and list of speakers will be released shortly. Please check our website for additional information.
2016 Public Meeting Schedule
Be sure to check our website for the most up-to-date information on 2016 meetings
Below, please find the 2016 public meeting schedule. All Board and Advisory Council meetings, with the exception of the 2016 Cost Trends Hearing, will take place at 50 Milk Street at 12:00PM. 
 
Board Meetings 
Wednesday, July 27
Wednesday, September 7
Wednesday, November 9
Wednesday, December 14
 
Cost Trends Hearing
Monday, October 17 and Tuesday October 18
 
Advisory Council Meetings
Wednesday, September 14
 
Committee Meetings
Unless otherwise noted, the first meeting is at 9:30AM, followed by the second meeting at 11AM.
CANCELLED Wednesday, June 29 - CHICI
NEW  Wednesday, July 13 - Public Hearing (10 AM)
Wednesday, October 26 - CTMP/CHICI
Wednesday, November 2 - CDPST/QIPP
Wednesday, November 30 - CDPST/QIPP
Wednesday, December 7 - CTMP/CHICI

All meeting dates are subject to change. Please check our  website  for updated information.