Coalitions

Edward Brennan, Esq.
As part of its efforts in advocating for children and pediatricians at the State House, the Chapter has joined several health care related coalitions. Each coalition has been formed by organizations that have united to advocate before the Legislature for passage of important public policy initiatives.

The coalitions are:

The ACT!! Coalition includes community and religious organizations, labor unions, doctors, hospitals, community health centers, public health advocates and consumers. The ACT!! Coalition is committed to implementing comprehensive health reform that honors the following five principles:

• MassHealth restoration and expansion
• Cost relief to moderate-income, working families including sliding-scale subsidies for private insurance
• Fair payment rates for doctors, hospitals, and other providers of MassHealth services
• Meaningful employer responsibility
• Fair and sustainable funding

Children's Health Access Coalition - a coalition of child advocates organized to ensure that children have access to health care through expansion of Medicaid eligibility and the benefits covered by the Children's Medical Security Program. The Children's Coalition is monitoring the state's implementation of the federal SCHIP Program (State Children's Health Insurance Program) which expanded Medicare eligibility to children up to age 18 with incomes at or below 200% of poverty.

Coalition For Managed Care Quality - a coalition of health care provider organizations, consumer advocates and unions advocating for managed care reform at the state level.

Massachusetts Coalition for a Healthy Future - a coalition of health care provider organizations, the American Cancer Society and public health advocates organized to promote statewide legislation which will enhance local tobacco control initiatives and maintain optimal funding of the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program.

The Oral Health Advocacy Taskforce is a broad-based statewide coalition of consumers, advocates, health care professionals, academics and insurers. The goal of the Taskforce is to expand access to oral health education, prevention and treatment services for all Massachusetts residents. To meet this goal, the Taskforce promotes the following policy priorities:

• Increase access to care for children and adults who qualify for and are enrolled in MassHealth;
  Strengthen and expand the capacity of safety-net dental providers;
• Implement statewide access to community water fluoridation; and
• Implement a public education and awareness campaign - www.watchyourmouth.org

Tobacco Settlement Coalition - a broad-based coalition of health care provider organizations, consumer groups and insurers working to make sure that revenues from the Attorney General's settlement with the tobacco industry be devoted to an expansion of public health programs related to tobacco control and improving health care for underserved populations.

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