10.15.2018

The List of Question 1 Opponents Grows

The list of important healthcare entities opposing Question 1 continues to grow as the November 6 Election Day nears.

The Providers’ Council – a statewide association of primarily non-profit, community-based organizations that provide human services, health, education and vocational supports to one-in-10 residents of the commonwealth – last week voiced its opposition to the ballot question, saying that mandated ratios would require thousands of new nurses “who just don’t exist in our state.” What will happen when you combine a mandated demand for nurses with a non-existent supply of RNs? The Providers' Council wrote: “What that means for human services providers, behavioral health and substance abuse providers (all in need of nurses), is that they will likely lose them to hospitals, leading them to reduce beds, increase wait times and/or close programs. That is an intolerable situation for clients, patients, and consumers that need services now. It is estimated that 1,000 behavioral beds and many addiction treatment beds needed during this opioid crises could be lost.”

The Massachusetts Health Council also has announced that it is joining the Coalition to Protect Patient Safety, as did the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts. See a full list of Coalition supporters here.