Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

Fenway Health doesn't just provide health care, it has long been a haven for unjustly marginalized groups. The Mass League stands shoulder to shoulder with them during this challenging time.

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Mass League stands #WithSurvivors. Domestic violence is a public health issue that affects millions. Roughly 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience a form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This common crisis is associated with a range of negative health outcomes including injuries, chronic illness, depression, PTSD, and even death. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. Click here for a list of services available in every Massachusetts county: https://lnkd.in/e9ATrDk Call 877-785-2020 for the statewide 24/7 domestic violence hotline. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, please dial 711. Translation services are available in over 130 languages. If you’re unable to speak safely, you can use the National Domestic Violence Hotline chat at thehotline.org

Today we joined the Health Equity Compact for a briefing on An Act to Advance Health Equity. This landmark legislation will improve access and quality of care, invest in communities and a representative health workforce, and strengthen health equity leadership and oversight. In Massachusetts, we're facing converging health care crises - increasing health care costs, a burned out workforce, cuts to Medicaid and public health resources, and deep, persistent racial health inequities. Lives are on the line, so we need to lead. An Act to Advance Health Equity addresses critical issues that will help us save lives and save dollars in this pivotal moment.

Listen to Mass League President and CEO, Michael Curry, Esq., explain why commercial rate equity for community health centers is so important for patients and our entire health care system.

Last call for sign ups! Our next Health Center Compliance Academy webinar on lobbying considerations for nonprofits is on Monday, October 20. Attorneys Andrew London and Melanie Bartlett from Foley Hoag LLP will walk participants through the definitions of lobbying under Federal and Massachusetts law, registration requirements, and reporting pitfalls. Sign up now! https://lnkd.in/ejv37g-W

Congratulations to our good friend, Dr. Guy Fish, MD, MBA of Codman Square Health Center, on being appointed to the Boston Board of Health! As someone who sees the health challenges that Boston's most vulnerable residents experience on a daily basis, we know Dr. Fish will bring the same care and attention he shows for Codman’s 23,000 patients to all Bostonians in this role.

A busy morning on Beacon Hill for our community health center leaders. Mass League President and CEO Michael Curry, Esq., Jagdeep Trivedi, CEO of Upham's Community Care, and Bethany Kieley, MBA, CEO of Community Health Programs, Inc. testified before the Joint Committee on Financial Services in support of H1096/S711, An Act Relative to Rate Equity in for Community Health Centers. A special thank you to Rep. Natalie M. Blais, lead sponsor of the legislation, for her testimony as well. Community health centers provide high-quality care and services to our most vulnerable residents, but do so on razor thin margins that make it difficult to invest in talent retention, facility upgrades, and technologies that benefit patients. One major reason is that commercial health insurers reimburse CHCs for services for less than the MassHealth rate and less than they do for the same care provided by private practices. Not only is this unfair, it contributes to inequitable access to primary care for our most underserved communities. This has to change. This legislation mandates that commercial insurers reimburse community health centers for services at the same rate that MassHealth does. Not only will this support our CHC's financial stability, it will enable them to better meet the needs of their patients and communities - all at no cost to the state.

This week, NeighborHealth hosted legislators, health care leaders, and advocates for a discussion on racial inequities in maternal health outcomes in Massachusetts. As our President and CEO, Michael Curry, Esq.. noted in his remarks, the passage of the "Momnibus bill" in 2024 was a major step towards addressing these issues, but concerning trends in the rates of severe maternal morbidity persist. Our community health centers are committed to addressing these troubling inequities through collaboration and coordination with our partners at the local level to improve access to care and expand networks of support that promote healthy pregnancies and births. We are grateful to everyone who attended this event and want to recognize the leadership of Jamie Hazard, Mimi Gardner, and Julio Mazul for creating the space for such an important conversation.

"When I discovered health centers, I was like, 'Oh. This is where I want to be.' EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah knows firsthand how important community health centers are in advancing health equity and improving health outcomes. https://lnkd.in/eqNtCnSD

Join the Mass League and Foley Hoag LLP for our next Health Center Compliance Academy session on October 20 to learn about what activities constitute lobbying, requirements for organizations engaging in lobbying activities, how to report lobbying activities, and key IRS considerations for nonprofits. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/ejv37g-W