healthcare

Business Community Worried About Rising Healthcare Costs in Massachusetts

Lucas Willard — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:03:31 +0000

In an article recently published by the Wall Street Journal, Massachusetts is the state with the highest per-capita expenditure on healthcare, with the average individual paying more than $9,200 a year on health care costs. Expenses taken into account include emergency care, physician visits, nursing home care, prescription drugs, dental care, and other categories.

Massachusetts Health Policy Official Discusses Priorities

Paul Tuthill — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 02:56:52 +0000

Massachusetts ,which pioneered universal access to health insurance, is now beginning the next phase of healthcare reform: reining in the run-away costs. The executive director of the new agency responsible for implementing the state’s cost containment law was in Springfield on Thursday.

Study Finds Many Medical Practices Closed To Disabled Patients

Paul Tuthill — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 22:04:00 +0000

A new survey of medical specialists by researchers in Springfield Massachusetts found many could not accommodate patients who use a wheelchair. The 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act mandates that all medical practitioners must provide full and equal access.

Mass. to revamp retiree health care

BOB SALSBERG and Associated Press — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 00:32:28 +0000

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick plans to recommend sweeping reforms in health care benefits for retired state and municipal employees, changes that are estimated to save up to $20 billion over the next 30 years.

The recommendations stem from a report due to be released Friday by a special commission that studied the soaring costs of retiree health care.

Baystate Hospital Opens New Emergency Center

Paul Tuthill — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:29:00 +0000

A new $45 million dollar emergency and trauma center opened at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield this morning. The state of the art facility will treat critically injured and ill people from throughout western Massachusetts. WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.

The new emergency department at Baystate Medical Center’s main campus in Springfield’s North End was opened to receive patients beginning at 7:30 Monday morning. The new facility is 72,000 square feet, 55,000 square feet larger than the old emergency room.

Conn. Veteran wounded in Vietnam sues Army to get care

Lucas Willard — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:00:00 +0000

A Purple Heart recipient from Connecticut who was wounded in the Vietnam War is suing the Army, claiming he's wrongly being denied health care benefits.

William Dolphin of West Haven filed the federal lawsuit Thursday in New Haven in an attempt to upgrade his discharge status and get benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The lawsuit says Dolphin suffered head, knee and back injuries in an explosion during combat in 1968 and was left with post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain.

State Auditor Finds Shortcomings in Commonwealth's MassHealth System

Lucas Willard — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 21:43:17 +0000

A recent audit of the MassHealth system has found the system open to fraud with thousands ineligible individuals receiving healthcare benefits from Massachusetts. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…

Massachusetts State Auditor Suzanne Bump released a report yesterday that pointed out shortcomings in the MassHealth system, which included failures of the state office of Medicaid to verify the incomes and residency of individuals who received tax-payer funded health care benefits.

Report Examines Physician Workforce in Massachusetts

Lucas Willard — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:00:33 +0000

A recent report released by the Massachusetts Medical Society highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the physician workforce in the Commonwealth, which includes a lack of trained specialists and primary care physicians.

The Massachusetts Medical Society’s annual Physician Workforce Study takes a comprehensive look at the working doctors in the state, physician recruitment rates, profession satisfaction, and more. One of the key observations in the report is a lack of primary care doctors and specialists across Massachusetts.

Doctors Harder to Find in Western Mass.

Lucas Willard — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:50:27 +0000

A new report released by the Massachusetts Medical Society shows that rural areas of the Commonwealth, including parts of Western Massachusetts, are lagging behind in patient access to care. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports…

Berkshire Health Care Providers Announce New Cancer Care Center

Lucas Willard — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:54:43 +0000

Berkshire County's leading health care providers have announced a partnership to open a $30 million, state-of-the-art cancer care center in Pittsfield.

Berkshire Health Systems, the county's largest employer, and Berkshire Hematology/Oncology, the region's largest private medical practice, announced Wednesday they expect to break ground in the fall on the four-story, nearly 50,000-square-foot facility. It is expected to fully operational within three years.