Comment Letters

May 2013

• 05/03/13
  Letter from MHA President & CEO Lynn Nicholas to Senate Ways & Means Committee Chairman Stephen Brewer regarding FY14 hospital budget priorities

April 2013

• 04/02/13
  DRAFT Comment Letter to EOHHS re: Primary Care Initiative

March 2013

• 03/25/13
  Advisory - DPH's Proposed Rules on CPOE & EHRs
• 03/25/13
  Advisory - Member Advocacy Needed on Parity Regulations
• 03/25/13
  DOI Comment Letter on Mental Health Parity Regulations
• 03/25/13
  DPH Hearing Notice for Testimony on Hospital Licensure
• 03/25/13
  DPH Proposed Regulations on Hospital Licensure
• 03/25/13
  MassHealth Comment Letter on Mental Health Parity Regulations
• 03/13/13
  DPH Memo to PHC on Hospital Licensure
• 03/08/13
  MHA Cover Letter to House Ways & Means Chairma Brian Dempsey regarding hospital priorities in the FY14 budget
• 03/08/13
  MHA Detailed Analysis & Budget Requests to House Ways & Means Chairman Brian Dempsey regarding the FY14 budget

January 2013

• 01/29/13
  Joint Provider-Insurer Coalition Letter regarding Appointments to the Health Policy Commission Advisory Council
• 01/25/13
  ACT!! Coalition Letter to the Commonwealth Connector Regarding changes to Minimum Creditable Coverage Regulations
• 01/25/13
  MHA Comment Letter Related to EOHHS Proposals to Address ED Length of Stay for Behavioral Patients

December 2012

• 12/14/12
  Letter from MHA President & CEO Lynn Nicholas to EOAF Secretary Jay Gonzalez on hospital priorities in the FY14 Budget

November 2012

• 11/30/12
  ACT!! Coalition Letter Regarding Basic Health Plan under the Affordable Care Act
• 11/29/12
  MHA testimony to CHIA regarding Health Care Claims Data Release and fee schedule for the All-Payer Claims Database
• 11/15/12
  ACT!! Coalition Letter in Response to State Auditor's Report regarding MassHealth's Eligibility Determination Process
• 11/12/12
  MHA Letter providing feedback in response to the Group Insurance Commission's RFR to provide health benefits for FY14

October 2012

• 10/31/12
  Letter from EOHHS Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby regarding Medicaid-Medicare Dual Eligible Demonstration Program
• 10/26/12
  Mass. Coalition for the Homeless et al. letter to Governor and legislative leaders seeking to restore access to EA shelter for Vulnerable Children and Homeless Families
• 10/25/12
  MHA Letter Regarding Proposed Regulations for DHCD's Emergency Assistance Program
• 10/22/12
  Letter to Medicaid Director Dr. Julian Harris with comments relating to the Acute Hospital Request for Application (RFA) for Rate Year (RY) 2013
• 10/22/12
  MHA-MMS Letter to DoI Commissioner Joseph Murphy expressing continuing concerns re: ongoing coding issues and DoI oversight
• 10/22/12
  MHA-MMS-MAHP Comment Letter Regarding Conflict of Interest Requirements for the Health Policy Commission
• 10/12/12
  MHA Comment Letter on 2013 RFA
• 10/09/12
  MHA comments to the DoI relative to Ch.224, Section 216 re: certification of risk-bearing provider organizations

August 2012

• 08/03/12
  MHA et al. follow-up letter in response to EOHHS meeting regarding dual eligible demonstration program

July 2012

• 07/31/12
  MHA Statement on the Legislature's Final 2012 Healthcare Reform Bill
• 07/13/12
  Advisory - MHA Reiterates Concerns on Dual Eligibles
• 07/06/12
  EOHHS Letter on Duals-MHA et.al.7.6.12
• 07/06/12
  EOHHS Letter-Dual Eligibles-7.6.12
• 07/03/12
  MHA Letter to Governor Patrick highlighting continued hospital concerns with the flawed policy changes in the MassHealth Hospital Request for Application (RFA) for RY2013
• 07/02/12
  Letter to the Conferees on the Healthcare Payment and Delivery Reform Legislation (SB2270-HB4155)

June 2012

• 06/27/12
  Letter from MHA and other Behavioral Health Providers to the House-Senate Conferees regarding Mental Health Priorities in the Payment and Delivery Reform Legislation (SB2270-HB4155)
• 06/27/12
  MHA Letter to House Ways and Means Chairman Dempsey in support of legislation standardizing the definition of observation services (HB304)
• 06/20/12
  MHA Letter to House Committee on Bills in Third Reading Vice-Chair James O'Day opposed to provisions in HB4176, An Act to Prohibit the Use of Certain Liability Waivers as Against Public Policy.
• 06/20/12
  MHA Letter to Sen. Berry on Observation Services Bill
• 06/20/12
  MHA and Other Behavioral Healthcare Provider Letter to House-Senate Conferees regarding medical necessity and clinical transparency criteria in the Payment and Delivery Reform Bills (SB2270-HB4155)
• 06/11/12
  FY13 Budget Conference Letter

May 2012

• 05/03/12
  MHA Letter to SWM FY13 Budget

April 2012

• 04/19/12
  MHA letter to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Financial Services in support of the actions of the Committee chairs giving a favorable report to observation services legislation.
• 04/19/12
  MHA letter to the chairs of the Joint Committee on HCF regarding redrafted health care resource planning and DoN legislation.

March 2012

• 03/14/12
  Letter from MHA, Post-Acute Hospital CEOs in Support of SB1154, An Act Modernizing Determination of Need Review for Non-Acute Hospitals

February 2012

• 02/24/12
  Letter to House Ways and Means Chairman Brian Dempsey regarding Massachusetts hospital priorities in the FY13 Budget

January 2012

• 01/06/12
  Letter to Chairman Dempsey in support of SB2067, An Act Adopting the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act

December 2011

• 12/09/11
  MHA Letter from Lynn Nicholas to Administration & Finance Secretary Gonzalez on FY13 Hospital Budget Priorities

November 2011

• 11/29/11
  ACT!! Coalition Letter to Governor Patrick in Support of FY13 Budget Priorities

September 2011

• 09/30/11
  MHA Letter with Coalition allies in opposition to rolling back nongroup eligibility changes implemented under Ch. 288 of the Acts of 2010
• 09/22/11
  MHA Coaition Letter in Support of Funding for Safety Net Priorities with FY11 Surplus Funds
• 09/16/11
  MHA Letter to Chairman Brewer and Chairman Dempsey in support of language requiring Hospital Consultation and Testing for the New Health Safety Net Claims System
• 09/14/11
  MHA 2012 Acute Care Hospital RFA Comment Letter

August 2011

• 08/10/11
  MHA Coalition Letter to EOHHS Sec. JudyAnn Bigby strongly supporting the continuation of the Office of Patient Protection within DPH

July 2011

• 07/28/11
  Quality Series 2 - Legislative cover letter 7-28-11.
• 07/27/11
  Letter to Senate President Murray and House Speaker DeLeo regarding FY11 HSN Relief 7-27-11.
• 07/26/11
  MHA response to State RFI regarding the use of ACOs by state payers
• 07/26/11
  SB1098 MHA Anatomical Gift Act Letter before the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance.
• 07/26/11
  Summary of MHA response to State RFI regarding the use of ACOs by state payers
• 07/06/11
  Letter to Governor Deval Patrick Regarding MHA Veto Priorities for the FY12 Budget
• 07/06/11
  MHA Letter to Governor Deval Patrick Seeking Corrective Action for 2 Items in the FY12 State Budget
• 07/01/11
  Advocates Letter to EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby regarding MA Health RFR 7-1-11

June 2011

• 06/23/11
  Letter to EOHHS Secretary Bigby, MHA joined with MMS, HCAM, MABHS to highlight mutual concersns with the state's proposed Medicare/Medicaid dual eligible initiative.
• 06/07/11
  MLOA MHA Comment Letter before the Executive office of Health and Human Services.
• 06/06/11
  Letter to House-Senate Budget Conferees on FT2012 Budget

May 2011

• 05/23/11
  Letter to Senate President Murray and Speaker DeLeo regarding Transitional Relief Payments to Acute Care Hospitals
• 05/23/11
  MHA HOTLINE - MHA Senate FY2012 Budget Amendment Positions; Leadership Letter on Pool B funding.
• 05/06/11
  Letter to Senate Ways & Means Chair, Stephen Brewer, regarding the FY12 state budget.

April 2011

• 04/08/11
  Letter to Governor Patrick in support of All-Payer Claims Database Sections in Supplemental Budget HB3318

February 2011

• 02/18/11
  Letter to Senate President Murray and Speaker DeLeo on federal waiver funding and supplemental payments to hospitals

January 2011

• 01/25/11
  Letter to EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby on federal waiver funding and supplemental payments to hospitals
• 01/20/11
  Letter to DHCFP Commissioner Morales
• 01/17/11
  Comment Letter to DHCFP Commissioner Morales on Technical Issues with the Proposed Methodology for Uniform Reporting
• 01/10/11
  Letter to EOHHS Secretary JudyAnn Bigby from MHA President & CEO Lynn Nicholas regarding the implementation of the Massachusetts Medicaid EHR PIPP

November 2010

• 11/19/10
  MHA Comments on Uniform Cost Reporting 11.19.10
• 11/15/10
  Letter to CMS Regarding Medicare DSH Formula
• 11/10/10
  TME & RP Comments 11.10.10

September 2010

• 09/08/10
  Letter to Senate President Murray and House Speaker DeLeo on state's use of enhanced FMAP funds

August 2010

• 08/18/10
  Letter to Secretary Bigby on MassHealth Pay-for-Performance Cuts and FMAP Funding
• 08/18/10
  Letter to Governor Patrick on MassHealth Pay-for-Performance Cuts and FMAP Funding
• 08/10/10
  MLR DOI Comment Letter

July 2010

• 07/28/10
  MHA Letter to the Legislative Conferees on the Small Business Premium Relief Bills SB2447 & HB2924
• 07/21/10
  MHA AICUM Letter Regarding HEFA to Legislative Conferees on the Economic Reorganization Legislation
• 07/12/10
  Letter from Lynn Nicholas to Speaker DeLeo and Senate President Murray regarding Governor Patrick's Veto Actions on the FY11 Budget

June 2010

• 06/30/10
  Letter from Lynn Nicholas to Governor Patrick on Final FY11 Budget
• 06/16/10
  Letter from MHA CEO Lynn Nicholas to Conferees on FY11 State Budget
• 06/16/10
  Letter to DOI Commissioner Murphy Re: Definition of Medical Loss Ratio
• 06/07/10
  Advisory - MHA RESPONDS TO DHCFP HOSPITAL SURPLUS STUDY
• 06/04/10
  Letter from MHA CEO Lynn Nicholas to EOHHS Sec. Bigby Re: MHA Comments on MassHealth 1115 Waiver Extension
• 06/04/10
  Letter to Chairman Panagiotakos Re: SB2414 An Act Strengthening the DoN Program

May 2010

• 05/26/10
  Letter to Commissioner David Morales in response to the "Study of the Reserves, Endowments, and Surpluses of Hospitals in Massachusetts" released by the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy
• 05/07/10
  Letter to Chairman Panagiotakos on FY11 Budget

April 2010

• 04/21/10
  Letter in support of SB2257 regarding ATV and snowmobile safety
• 04/09/10
  MHA Letter to Senators Regarding HEFA Provisions in SB2345

December 2009

• 12/16/09
  MHA Letter to A&F Secretary Gonzalez on FY2011 Budget
• 12/11/09
  MHA Letter to Deputy Commissioner Beagan on DOI Hearings

October 2009

• 10/16/09
  Patrick letter October 09
• 10/08/09
  MHA Letter Regarding MassHealth RFA

July 2009

• 07/27/09
  MHA comment letter to the Department of Public Utilities on a proposal that would result in increased energy costs for hospitals without regard to conservation efforts.

April 2009

• 04/03/09
  MHA Letters to House & Senate Ways & Means Committee Members regarding MHA's state FY2010 Budget Priorities

March 2009

• 03/11/09
  MassHealth Payment Policy Advisory Board Letter to House Leaders

February 2009

• 02/25/09
  MHA joined with a coalition of business organizations in support of Gov. Deval Patrick's proposed amendments to the legislatively-approved bill mandating the payment of treble damages for wage violations.

July 2008

• 07/17/08
  MHA wrote Senate President Murray and House Speaker DiMasi on July 17 to offer MHA's position on the Governor's vetoes of several key provisions of the FY 2009 budget.

May 2008

• 05/08/08
  MHA letter to Senator Panagiotakos outlining priorities for the FY09 state budget.

April 2008

• 04/11/08
  Treble Damages Bill--Veto Request letter

January 2008

• 01/28/08
  MHA's letter to the Senate in opposition to SB2406, An Act for a Healthy Massachusetts - Safer Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals

December 2007

• 12/19/07
  MHA comments on the Commonwealth Care proposed changes, including co-payment increases and provider reimbursement.