Marylou Sudders
Secretary of Health and Human Services, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA
Monica Bharel
Commissioner of Public Health
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA
Members of the Public Health Council
Dear Secretary Sudders, Commissioner Bharel and members of the Public Health Council,
To protect low income patients and communities of color who rely on community hospitals, I urge you to reopen and reverse the Department of Public Health’s initial approval of the 13 hospital mega merger led by Beth Israel and Lahey Health.
On July 18, 2018, the Health Policy Commission released its report, which found the mega merger would:
- Largely exclude communities of color from its care
- Serve the lowest levels of MassHealth patients of any system in Eastern Massachusetts
- Increase health costs by up to $250 million, per-year
This report confirms our worst fears, that the merger will leave communities of color behind in order to generate bigger profits. It will also force community hospitals who can't compete to cut services and eventually close. Attorney General Maura Healey identified similar issues, which have been confirmed by this report.
I call on the DPH to reopen and reverse its previous findings and take action to protect low income patients and communities of color who rely on community hospitals.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to helping low income and communities of color access affordable care.
EN ESPAÑOL
Marylou Sudders
Secretaria de Salud y Servicios Humanos,
One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA
Monica Bharel
Comisionada de Salud Pública
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA
Miembros del Consejo de Salud Pública
Estimado Secretaria Sudders, Comisionada Bharel y miembros del Consejo de Salud Pública,
Para proteger a los pacientes de bajos ingresos y las comunidades de color que dependen de los hospitales comunitarios, los insto a reabrir y revertir la aprobación inicial del Departamento de Salud Pública de la mega fusión de 13 hospitales dirigida por Beth Israel y Lahey Health.
El 18 de julio de 2018, la Comisión de Política de Salud publicó su informe, que encontró que la mega fusión:
- Excluye en gran medida a las comunidades de color de su cuidado
- Servirá a los niveles más bajos de pacientes de MassHealth de cualquier sistema en el este de Massachusetts
- Aumentará los costos de salud hasta $ 250 millones, por año
Este informe confirma nuestros peores temores, que la fusión dejará atrás a las comunidades de color para generar mayores ganancias. También obligará a los hospitales comunitarios, que no pueden competir, a cortar los servicios y finalmente cerrar. La Fiscal General Maura Healey identificó problemas similares, que han sido confirmados por este informe.
Pido al DPH que vuelva a abrir e invertir sus hallazgos anteriores y a tomar medidas para proteger a pacientes de bajos ingresos y las comunidades de color que dependen de los hospitales comunitarios.
Gracias por su compromiso continuo para ayudar a las familias de bajos ingresos y brindar un acceso asequible a las comunidades de color.
Updates
August 15, 2018
Reaching this point has been an exhausting uphill climb but seeing the momentum grow confirms that I am not alone in this fight. This effort is draining and the resistance feels endless yet your backing keeps me moving forward against the odds.
48 Comments
This merger is going to hurt everyone in my neighborhood. We deserve affordable healthcare not less services because some big company wants more money.
Soy productor de radio y tv. Apoyo en todas sus partes la peticion de toda la comunidad.
Let work together for a better healthcare system but let do it this all together Jeovanny Rodriguez Lawrence city Councilor
As a nurse in the city I see how important these hospitals are. DO NOT let this merger destroy our local access to care.
Low income families have always suffered financially, how are they supposed to face any medical issues. We need to try and be fair and compassionate with those less fortunate
Brockton
Clinical coordinator at The Cape Verdean Association of Brockton
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Marylou Sudders
Secretary of Health and Human Services, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA
Monica Bharel
Commissioner of Public Health
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA
Members of the Public Health Council
Dear Secretary Sudders, Commissioner Bharel and members of the Public Health Council,
To protect low income patients and communities of color who rely on community hospitals, I urge you to reopen and reverse the Department of Public Health’s initial approval of the 13 hospital mega merger led by Beth Israel and Lahey Health.
On July 18, 2018, the Health Policy Commission released its report, which found the mega merger would:
- Largely exclude communities of color from its care
- Serve the lowest levels of MassHealth patients of any system in Eastern Massachusetts
- Increase health costs by up to $250 million, per-year
This report confirms our worst fears, that the merger will leave communities of color behind in order to generate bigger profits. It will also force community hospitals who can't compete to cut services and eventually close. Attorney General Maura Healey identified similar issues, which have been confirmed by this report.
I call on the DPH to reopen and reverse its previous findings and take action to protect low income patients and communities of color who rely on community hospitals.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to helping low income and communities of color access affordable care.
EN ESPAÑOL
Marylou Sudders
Secretaria de Salud y Servicios Humanos,
One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA
Monica Bharel
Comisionada de Salud Pública
250 Washington Street, Boston, MA
Miembros del Consejo de Salud Pública
Estimado Secretaria Sudders, Comisionada Bharel y miembros del Consejo de Salud Pública,
Para proteger a los pacientes de bajos ingresos y las comunidades de color que dependen de los hospitales comunitarios, los insto a reabrir y revertir la aprobación inicial del Departamento de Salud Pública de la mega fusión de 13 hospitales dirigida por Beth Israel y Lahey Health.
El 18 de julio de 2018, la Comisión de Política de Salud publicó su informe, que encontró que la mega fusión:
- Excluye en gran medida a las comunidades de color de su cuidado
- Servirá a los niveles más bajos de pacientes de MassHealth de cualquier sistema en el este de Massachusetts
- Aumentará los costos de salud hasta $ 250 millones, por año
Este informe confirma nuestros peores temores, que la fusión dejará atrás a las comunidades de color para generar mayores ganancias. También obligará a los hospitales comunitarios, que no pueden competir, a cortar los servicios y finalmente cerrar. La Fiscal General Maura Healey identificó problemas similares, que han sido confirmados por este informe.
Pido al DPH que vuelva a abrir e invertir sus hallazgos anteriores y a tomar medidas para proteger a pacientes de bajos ingresos y las comunidades de color que dependen de los hospitales comunitarios.
Gracias por su compromiso continuo para ayudar a las familias de bajos ingresos y brindar un acceso asequible a las comunidades de color.
Updates
August 15, 2018
Reaching this point has been an exhausting uphill climb but seeing the momentum grow confirms that I am not alone in this fight. This effort is draining and the resistance feels endless yet your backing keeps me moving forward against the odds.
48 Comments
Healthcare costs are already too high. Stop putting profits over real people who need help.
This merger is going to hurt everyone in my neighborhood. We deserve affordable healthcare not less services because some big company wants more money.
Soy productor de radio y tv. Apoyo en todas sus partes la peticion de toda la comunidad.
Let work together for a better healthcare system but let do it this all together Jeovanny Rodriguez Lawrence city Councilor
As a nurse in the city I see how important these hospitals are. DO NOT let this merger destroy our local access to care.
Low income families have always suffered financially, how are they supposed to face any medical issues. We need to try and be fair and compassionate with those less fortunate
Brockton
Clinical coordinator at The Cape Verdean Association of Brockton
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Healthcare costs are already too high. Stop putting profits over real people who need help.