Public Health

Click on the links below for more information on MHA’s advocacy and member outreach efforts on federal aspects of public health matters. 


02.17.2020  | President’s Budget Attacks Medicare & Medicaid
President Trump released his proposed FY21 budget last year and it is remarkable for the ferocity with which it attacks Medicare and Medicaid.
01.20.2020  | DPH’s Bharel Has Ideas for Battling “Substance Misuse Disorders”
DPH Commissioner Monica Bharel, M.D., testified before the U.S. House Committee on Energy & Commerce last Tuesday.
01.20.2020  | Hospitals: Move on McGovern’s Social Determinants Bill
Hospitals and other advocates are urging the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee to move forward on a social determinants of health bill.
05.13.2019  | Sen. Warren Reintroduces CARE Act to Fight Substance Use Disorder
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) last week reintroduced her Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act.
03.18.2019  | M.D.s Were Part of Last Week’s Big Gun Ruling
The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled that relatives of those killed in the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School can proceed with their suit against gun manufacturers.
03.04.2019  | Debate Continues on Safe Injection Facilities
Safe injection facilities (SIFs) – a location where people can inject illicit drugs under the supervision of trained staff – are on two distinct paths in the state.
02.11.2019  | A Renewed County-by-County Fight Against HIV
President Donald Trump focused part of his State of the Union speech last week on HIV and AIDs, urging a bipartisan approach to “eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years.”
01.28.2019  | What to Expect in the Federal Healthcare Arena
The American Hospital Association (AHA) last week laid out its 2019 public policy agenda.
01.14.2019  | Rx Prices in the Crosshairs
Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), along with several Democratic Senate and House members, including House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), announced the release of three bills intended to lower drug prices.
10.08.2018  | Opioid Bill Sent to President
By a vote of 98 to 1, the U.S. Senate passed a large bill to fight the nation’s opioid crisis.
10.01.2018  | Opioids: A Step Forward in D.C., a Potential Step Back in Mass.
In Mass., optimism over a federal opioid bill is mixed with concern over an impending threat to the state's behavioral health system
09.24.2018  | A Federal Opioid Bill Due Soon
Federal legislation to combat opioid use disorder is moving along fairly quickly and may be ready by the end of September.
09.03.2018  | GOP Pre-Existing Condition Bill Faces Unclear Path
Nearly a dozen Republican senators introduced legislation to bar health insurers from denying coverage to people with pre-existing health conditions.
07.09.2018  | An Oppressively Hot Holiday Week Doesn’t Slow Hospitals
Things moved at a slow pace during last week’s oppressive heat wave and mid-week Independence Day holiday. But MHA continued its focus on key priorities.
03.19.2018  | Warren Defends 340B Program at Senate HELP Hearing
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) defended the 340B drug program and the hospitals and health centers that rely on it at a hearing last Thursday.
02.19.2018  | The Trump HHS Budget for Fiscal 2019
Last Monday, the Trump Administration released its FY2019 budget proposal.
02.12.2018  | New National Group to Address Big Healthcare Issues
A new healthcare policy/advocacy group – United States of Care – launched last week.
02.05.2018  | One of Many SOTU Promises: Lowering Rx Prices
Pres. Trump said a great priority is to reduce the price of prescription drugs.
01.22.2018  | Markey Leads Bipartisan Effort to Fight Opioids
Sen. Markey is working to expand access to medication-assisted therapies for opioid addiction.
01.18.2018  | What’s On Tap on Capitol Hill
In Washington, the Senate returned last week and the House follows this week.

Resources

Click on the links below for easy access to information on important federal healthcare matters and MHA’s advocacy, outreach and other work on these issues.

Both of these include links to members list, committees, and legislation and records.