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A recent letter-to-the-editor by Massachusetts Health Care For All Executive Director Amy Whitcomb Slemmer calls for comprehensive payment reform legislation now rather than later. The letter was written in response to a Boston Globe editorial that calls for a slower pace to enact cost containment strategies in yet-to-be released payment reform legislation.

Led by Health Care for All, the Massachusetts Campaign for Better Care is providing the primary consumer advocacy voice on state discussions about health care costs and proposals to create new payment strategies that will reward better quality and more efficient care. In particular, the Massachusetts Campaign for Better Care is working to ensure that payment reform legislation will result in more comprehensive, coordinated quality health care for patients and their family caregivers.

Last week, PICO New Jersey, one of the lead organizations for the state's CBC work, hosted its first community health care meeting at Kingsbury Towers in Trenton. The focus was on listening to residents' stories about the barriers to health care. The meeting went very well. More than 20 residents participated and were joined by representatives from St. Francis Medical Center and Henry J. Austin Hospital. Eight residents shared testimonies that powerfully described some of the barriers they face including transportation, long wait times, and dismissive treatment from providers. Participants also heard from members of the Trenton Health Team about their goal and commitment to listen and work with the community to help improve health care in the city of Trenton. Several of the residents are helping to organize a follow up meeting.

The North Carolina CBC team recently presented to the AARP Chapter 4141 in Wilson, NC. The presentation centered on what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is doing now and other benefits that will be available as it is phased in over the next few years. The North Carolina CBC team spoke about how the ACA lays the groundwork for the campaign's goals of more coordinated, quality care. The audience learned about the provisions of the law that target seniors, resources that are currently available to them, and the CBC's 8 points of better care. 

Led by the Health Access Coalition of the North Carolina Justice Center, the North Carolina Campaign for Better Care is using new media strategies to convey the need for better care for the most vulnerable North Carolinians. The Campaign is working through the NC Institute of Medicine's health reform implementation process to promote the implementation of state-level payment reform that will improve the quality and coordination of care and lower costs. The Campaign is also working to protect against cuts to Medicaid and the state's medical home and care coordination program, Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC). Finally, the Campaign is ensuring that the needs of patients and their family caregivers are front and center in any new models, including the expansion of CCNC into the private sector.

Check out the latest edition of the Ohio CBC newsletter! The newsletter presents the latest on Ohio's initiatives to create better care at lower costs, highlights the story of a Lift Up Your Voice! graduate Gloria Smith and her struggles with the health care system, and offers a lot of valuable information!

Led by the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN Ohio), the Ohio Campaign for Better Care is working to ensure that older Ohioans get the comprehensive, coordinated, quality health care they need and deserve by promoting new models of care. The Campaign is working to:

• improve primary care and care coordination by creating Patient Family Advisory Councils in hospitals and primary care settings for older adults and ensuring robust consumer engagement in Ohio's Health Homes initiative
• promote better transition between care settings by creating reforms aimed at reducing avoidable hospital readmissions and complications
• increase access to home and community based services.

The latest edition of the Pennsylvania CBC newsletter analyzes harsh proposed budget cuts, invites seniors to participate in the Healthy Hospital Workgroup focus group, highlights a consumer story and much more!  

The Pennsylvania Campaign for Better Care, led by Pittsburgh-based Consumer Health Coalition, is organizing consumers and working to convey the need for better care for the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians. In particular, the Campaign is promoting policies that will:

• to reduce preventable hospital complications and readmissions
• improve access to home and community based services
• Engage in consumer friendly implementation of the ACA and protect public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.