Commonwealth Conversations: Public Health

Burlington Employers Engage in Health Care Costs Discussion

Posted by: David Morales, Commissioner, Division of Health Care Finance and Policy

In a recent post, I shared the stories of employers from the North Shore area and their challenges in providing affordable health insurance coverage to their employees. 

Yesterday I visited employers in Burlington at an event organized by Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Murphy, and listened to very similar stories. The employers represented at yesterday's event represented a wide-range of employer types including municipal government, for-profit companies, and non-profit organizations. 

They all agreed on one important issue: they too are feeling the pinch of dramatic increases in health care costs. In addition - like other small employers across Massachusetts - some are resorting to raising their employee deductibles and co-payments to curb their health care premiums, or even more alarming, to changing their full-time employees to part-time status.

El uso del alcohol entre los jóvenes latinos

Posted by:
Jordan Coriza, Department of Public Health

Jordan is the Director of Ethnic Media Engagement for the Department.

Según los resultados de una encuesta que el Estado lleva a cabo todos los años en las escuelas de Massachusetts, uno de cada cinco niños hispanos entre los 12 y 14 años de edad bebe alcohol. Además, casi el 40 por ciento de los niños hispanos admiten haber probado alcohol alguna vez en su vida. Esta información es preocupante por varios motivos.

Primero, las cifras son mucho más altas para los niños hispanos que para los niños de otras razas: blancos, afroamericanos y asiáticos. No obstante, vale señalar que los números se nivelan al llegar a la escuela secundaria, o sea, para los niños entre las edades de 15 y 18 años. Segundo, tomar alcohol a una edad temprana puede dañar el cerebro. Y, finalmente, el consumo precoz está directamente relacionado con el abuso de alcohol en adultos y con el uso de otras drogas.

Por lo anterior, los expertos aseguran que es fundamental retrasar el uso del alcohol entre los jóvenes. Pero, ¿cómo hacerlo? Se trata de un trabajo de todos: de la comunidad, del gobierno y, principalmente, de los padres. De hecho, a pedido de los padres el gobierno ha desarrollado una serie de materiales (disponibles en inglés y español) con ideas útiles sobre cómo hablar con los hijos sobre temas de alcohol y drogas.

Otro aspecto fundamental en la prevención del uso de alcohol entre los jóvenes es la restricción del acceso al alcohol dentro y fuera de casa. En otro folleto informativo del Departamento de Salud Pública se discuten medidas que los padres pueden tomar para prevenir el abuso de sustancias dentro de sus casas. Proveer alcohol a menores de edad es ilegal, está prohibido vender o proveer alcohol a menores de 21.

Chronic Disease in Massachusetts: The Big Picture

Chapter seven of “The Health of Massachusetts” highlights the work of the Department’s Bureau of Community Health Access and Promotion. The bureau is primarily responsible for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.  

Numerous factors contribute to the rapidly rising rates of chronic disease, both in Massachusetts and across the country. These include poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, poor air quality, and exposure to tobacco. In addition, the growing obesity epidemic has also led to a marked increase in many chronic diseases. The combined impact of these health issues greatly affects the residents of Massachusetts, as well as the health care system and economy of the Commonwealth.   

Learn more about these diseases and the work the Department is doing to address them at www.mass.gov/dph/healthofmassachusetts.

Improving services to Health and Human Services clients through HHS Centers

Posted by:
JudyAnn Bigby, MD, Secretary of Health and Human Services

 

It’s an exciting day for HHS staff in Hyannis and for the entire Office of Health and Human Services.  Earlier today, I attended the official grand opening of the Hyannis Health and Human Service Center (HHS Center), the first in a series of planned HHS Centers across the Commonwealth.

HHS Centers co-locate area offices of HHS agencies, making it easier for Massachusetts residents to access the diverse resources provided by HHS in a “one stop shop” environment.  This is particularly beneficial to individuals and families served by more than one HHS agency, as HHS Centers reduce the need for multiple office visits and also break down physical barriers to HHS staff who serve the same clients. At HHS Centers, staff can collaborate across agencies to meet client needs.

"50+ Report"

Posted by: David Morales, Commissioner, Division of Health Care Finance and Policy

As you may know, Massachusetts employers continue to be national leaders in providing health insurance to their workers. According to our 2009 Massachusetts Employer Survey, 76% of Massachusetts employers offer health insurance to their employees, while only 60% of employers nationwide offer coverage.  And, a whopping 98% of Massachusetts employers with 50 or more employees offer coverage.

Today, the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (DHCFP) released more good news. The agency's annual report on Employers Who Had Fifty or More Employees Using MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, or the Health Safety Net in State Fiscal Year 2009- commonly referred to as the "50+ report" - shows how much the Commonwealth pays in health care services provided to people who work for firms with 50 or more employees. The report also estimates expenditures in these programs for people identified as dependents of these employees (e.g., children, spouses, etc.). 

This year's analysis shows that the Commonwealth's spending for this group of individuals only increased by 1% over the prior year - that is very good news!  Although annual health care costs are rising, employers continue to offer health care insurance to their employees at unprecedented levels. 

Furthermore, the analysis shows that the total number of employees using publicly subsidized care decreased by approximately 8,000, and the total cost decreased by $31 million. These trends represent needed savings to the Commonwealth and are welcome news for Massachusetts health reform.

The Division will continue to study and monitor how health reform policies (both state and federal) affect and influence Massachusetts employers.  We will also ensure - through greater transparency - that employers get the necessary information to remain national leaders in health insurance coverage and to pro-actively promote wellness among their employees.  

Em Boston e Brockton continua a luta contra a obesidade

Posted by:
Jordan Coriza, Department of Public Health

Jordan is the Director of Ethnic Media Engagement for the Department.

O governo do Estado anunciou a semana passada que foram concedidas verbas no total de $85.000 dólares às cidades de Boston e Brockton para continuar a sua luta contra a obesidade. Numa mensagem anterior — quando Massachusetts recebeu mais de meio milhão de dólares para o mesmo fim — comentei que achava irônico que fosse necessário mais dinheiro para levar as pessoas a comer menos. Permita-me falar sobre como essas cidades propõem investir os fundos.

Parte do problema da obesidade tem a ver com o custo e o acesso a alimentos saudáveis. Nas áreas menos privilegiadas da cidade, onde se concentram a maior densidade populacional e a maior pobreza, as lojas de conveniência são mais comuns que os supermercados. Você deve se perguntar, por que isto é um problema? Porque em um supermercado você encontrará uma variedade de frutas, verduras, carnes e uma seleção de ingredientes naturais. Nas lojas de conveniência encontrará, como diz o nome, artigos de conveniência. Em matéria de comestíveis, o que encontra são batata frita, produtos enlatados, comidas congeladas, etc., quer dizer, alimentos não particularmente saudáveis.

Porém sabemos que a obesidade tem a ver com outras coisas para além da alimentação. Tem a ver, por exemplo, com a falta de atividade física. Digamos que você gostaria de andar de bicicleta ou de caminhar depois do jantar, mas vive numa área perigosa, com pouca iluminação e ruas com péssimas condições para se andar a pé. Imaginemos que você queira mandar seu filho jogar bola ou brincar lá fora com os amigos, mas na sua área de residência não há um parque seguro.

Boston y Brockton continúan su batalla contra la obesidad

Posted by:
Jordan Coriza, Department of Public Health

Jordan is the Director of Ethnic Media Engagement for the Department.

El gobierno del Estado anunció la semana pasada que ha concedido $85.000 dólares a las ciudades de Boston y Brockton para continuar su batalla contra la obesidad. En un mensaje anterior —cuando Massachusetts recibió más de medio millón de dólares para el mismo propósito— les comenté que me parecía irónico que hiciera falta más dinero para que la gente comiera menos. Permítanme hablarles sobre cómo dichas ciudades proponen invertir los fondos.

Parte del problema tiene que ver con el costo y el acceso a los alimentos saludables. En las zonas menos privilegiadas de la ciudad, donde se suelen encontrar la mayor densidad poblacional y la mayor pobreza, es menos común encontrar supermercados. En un supermercado encontrará una variedad de frutas, verduras, carnes y un buen surtido de ingredientes naturales. En las tiendas de conveniencia que suelen haber en las zonas más pobres de la ciudad encontrará, como dice su nombre, artículos de conveniencia. En materia de comestibles, esto quiere decir papitas, productos enlatados, comidas congeladas, etc., es decir, alimentos no particularmente saludables.

Pero sabemos que la obesidad tiene que ver con cosas que van más allá de la alimentación. Tiene que ver, por ejemplo, con la falta de actividad física. Digamos que a usted le gustaría salir a andar en bicicleta o a caminar después de cenar, pero vive en un área peligrosa, con poca iluminación y con aceras en condiciones pésimas. Pensemos que usted quisiera mandar a su hijo a jugar a la pelota o corretear con sus amigos, pero en su vecindario no hay un parque seguro.

Consumers Can Play a Role in Transforming the Health Care Delivery System

Posted by: David Morales, Commissioner, Division of Health Care Finance and Policy

I spend a lot of time talking about the Massachusetts health care delivery system, mostly to researchers, legislators, employers, advocates, and the like, but rarely do I have the opportunity to speak directly with consumers. 

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to do so at a Health Care for All (HCFA) Consumer Health Quality meeting. This Council is comprised of volunteers that have been personally impacted by medical errors or quality deficiencies. I applaud their commitment to injecting the consumer voice and perspective into key health care policy discussions and legislative debates. 

I was asked to present to the Council on the Division's work and how consumers can play a role in transforming the health care delivery system. It was a great opportunity to share some of the key findings of our Health Care Cost Trends 2010 Final Report and highlight our policy recommendations as they relate to consumers. 

Adventures in Community Supported Agriculture!

Posted by:
Meghan Morse, Department of Public Health

Meghan is a Nutrition Education Specialist for DPH.

With all the benefits of eating locally grown foods, I’ve been looking to do more than just give lip-service to the trend. I really wanted to commit myself to eating the produce that Massachusetts has to offer, and supporting local farmers. So I joined a CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, which is where a farmer offers shares of produce to the public. Usually with CSAs, the share is a weekly box of vegetables, but other farm products might be included. Membership lasts for the growing season, usually June through October. So my commitment is one that will last me all summer and most of the fall! I wasn’t sure exactly what this would mean, since every week the farm chooses what to put in the box for their customers.

I just got my first box this past week, and it was full of lesser-known goodies, like Swiss chard, kale, and beets, oh my! I’m embarrassed to say that as a dietitian, some of these veggies have never been stars in my diet. My “weekly box” also contained strawberries, spinach, and lettuce, but I was intrigued by some of these new-to-me vegetables.

My fiancé cooked his first-ever beets and beet greens recipe. With a little garlic and red wine vinegar, this was a winner! I’m looking forward to breaking out of my usual vegetable rut by sautéing some kale tonight with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

If you need a little more veggie- adventure in your life, I can tell you that it’s easy to find a CSA in your area. Although it’s a lot of fun, you don’t have to join a CSA to support farmers. You can visit your local farm stand or farmers’ market this summer.

What new veggies will you try? Care to share a good recipe or neat ideas about eating locally? We’d love to hear from you.

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On the Trail of Infectious Disease

Chapter six of "The Health of Massachusetts" explores the work of the Department’s Bureau of Infectious Disease Prevention, Response and Services. The bureau is responsible for preventing, observing, and controlling more than 90 infectious diseases and conditions across the state including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus.

 

In the 1960s and 1970s, public health experts thought that many infectious diseases were all but conquered in the United States by successful sanitation, vaccines, antibiotics and infection control measures. However, this optimism was short-lived, as new diseases emerged and old ones adapted to our efforts to control them.

We know that successful prevention and control of infectious diseases is built on a foundation of disease surveillance. Surveillance shows what diseases are happening, where they are taking place, and who is getting them. Surveillance data can also show how effective our efforts are in controlling disease.  

Through the years, surveillance of infectious diseases has become highly efficient and increasingly accurate, yet the ever-changing ways the diseases impact our residents provides an ongoing challenge for prevention programs and clinical services. Learn more on our website at: www.mass.gov/dph/healthofmassachusetts.