Massachusetts Hospital Leaders Rally at State House to Recognize Hospitals’ Vital Economic and Community Benefits, Discuss Challenges Ahead

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2009

CONTACT: Catherine Bromberg, 781-262-6027

Hundreds of hospital and healthcare leaders from across Massachusetts gathered at the State House today to highlight the many vital economic and community benefits hospitals provide to their communities, and address some of the critical issues they face, including devastating prospective budget cutbacks that threaten to cripple or even close important healthcare programs and facilities.

The annual day-long “Hospitals on the Hill” event included a speaking program featuring Attorney General Martha Coakley and offered those in attendance an opportunity to talk to their legislators. Coakley noted that although the current economic outlook is grim, “we have to position ourselves for the future.

“We are leaders in this country,” Coakley said. “We are being looked at – how we manage coverage and how we are going to pay for it.”

“While these unprecedented times require painful cutbacks for all, some of the reductions now being put forward threaten hospitals’ very ability to provide essential care,” said Lynn Nicholas, president & CEO of the Massachusetts Hospital Association. “We cannot flat-line the hospitals of Massachusetts because hospitals are the lifeline of every community.”

Hospital officials also used the event as an opportunity to share ideas with legislators and other state leaders about some of the ways all stakeholders can work together to stabilize and stimulate the state economy, limit healthcare cost increases and ensure that health reform continues to succeed. Topics of discussion included reserving increased federal Medicaid funding for healthcare purposes, supporting the Healthcare Reform Law’s commitment to more closely align government payments for care with actual healthcare costs, addressing healthcare workforce issues, and pursuing administrative simplification for cost savings.

A dozen hospitals and healthcare groups from across the state were on hand at Nurses Hall, where they offered poster presentations, information and interactive displays of some of their hospitals’ community benefits. Participating hospitals included: Baystate Health System; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Children's Hospital Boston; Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals; Hallmark Health; HealthAlliance Hospitals; Heywood Hospital; Lowell General Hospital; Partners Healthcare; Southcoast Hospitals Group; Tufts Medical Center; UMass Memorial Medical Center; and Winchester Hospital.

About MHA -The Massachusetts Hospital Association is a voluntary, not-for-profit organization comprised of hospitals and health systems, related organizations, and other members with a common interest in promoting the health of the people of the Commonwealth. Through leadership in public advocacy, education, and information, MHA represents and advocates for the collective interests of its member hospitals and health systems, and supports their efforts to provide high quality, cost effective, and accessible care.

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