MASS HEALTH CARE LEADERS PARTICIPATE IN INNOVATIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM PANEL ON CAPE ANN

Northeast Health System CEO Ken Hanover and MHA President Lynn Nicholas discuss impacts of health care reform on area communities and families

(Gloucester, MA) – January 24, 2011 – Dozens of North Shore business and community leaders and residents attended a recent health care panel entitled ‘Health Care Reform: What does the Changing Landscape Mean to Me and My Family?’  The discussion featured Northeast Health System President and CEO Ken Hanover and Massachusetts Hospital Association President and CEO Lynn Nicholas.  It was moderated by Bob Hastings, Executive Director of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.

The event, which took place on January 13^th, was an opportunity to discuss the impact of health reform on Massachusetts and area North Shore hospitals and families. Hanover and Nicholas addressed a variety of topics relating to this issue, including the current hospital climate, industry trends, major issues driving the cost of health care, and potential future impacts of health care reform. During the event, which was held at Cruiseport Gloucester, attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions.

Lynn Nicholas has been a driving force in moving Massachusetts to the forefront of constructive health care reform. The Massachusetts Hospital Association President & CEO spotlighted for more than 70 business leaders and members of the Gloucester City Council the ramifications of the move from the current fee-for-service health care system to  a global or bundled payment reimbursement model.

A move to global payments would end the practice of paying health care providers for individual procedures, replacing it with a system that attaches a fixed price to the routine health care costs incurred by a patient over a given period of time.

“Massachusetts hospitals are committed to health care payment and delivery reform, and believe that greater use of global or bundled payments for care could result in more coordinated and integrated care, which could help bring down premiums,” Nicholas said. “But just as hospitals are not solely or even primarily responsible for cost increases, additional significant savings cannot be achieved solely through steps taken by those who provide care. Everyone involved – caregivers, insurers, legislators, government, business and consumers – must share in the solution.”

Nicholas has served on the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Task Force on Community Benefits, the Governor’s Special Commission on Healthcare Payment Reform and numerous other boards, advisory committees and philanthropic leadership committees. MHA is the leading advocacy group for hospitals and health systems across the state, representing more than 90 facilities.

Both Nicholas and Hanover told the crowd that it is imperative we move now to take steps that will eventually improve health care while controlling soaring costs.

“People hear and read about health care reform every day but its effects on area communities and families are not always well understood,” said Hanover.  “This event was an opportunity to bring the discussion close to home and discuss how the legislation impacts costs, our community hospitals, and the way we choose our health providers. We are proud to serve the North Shore, and we are always looking for ways to better utilize our resources so we can provide the best medical care to our communities.”

About Addison Gilbert Hospital

Addison Gilbert Hospital is a full service, medical/surgical acute care facility.  The hospital, founded in 1889, provides state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient care to residents of the Cape Ann community in specialties such as primary care, emergency services, radiology and mammography, cancer care, day surgery, physical and occupational therapy, gynecology, inpatient senior health services, and a variety of specialty physician services.  Among all other Massachusetts hospitals, Addison Gilbert continues to score among the top hospitals in the nation for patient satisfaction in surveys conducted by Press Ganey Associates.

About Northeast Health Foundation
Northeast Health Foundation is the fundraising arm of Northeast Health System, which is based in Beverly on Massachusetts’s North Shore. The Foundation works to build philanthropy for Beverly Hospital, Addison Gilbert Hospital, BayRidge Hospital, CAB Health & Recovery Services and Health & Education Services, Inc.–all not-for-profit affiliates of Northeast Health System. For more information please visit www.nh-foundation.org.