Online Program

294995
Strengthening public health as a partner in health care reform: How Massachusetts creatively sought resources for prevention and wellness


Saturday, November 2, 2013 : 11:09 a.m. - 11:21 a.m.

John Auerbach, MBA, Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
While Massachusetts' health care and payment reform laws are primarily known for expanding access to health care, they have also supported a number of public health and prevention initiatives. The presentation will highlight those efforts that have been the most successful and/or the most promising. These include the creation of a $60 million Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, the widespread promotion of and support for workplace wellness programs, the consideration of population health quality measures in insurance and licensure regulations and steps to routinely incorporate community health workers as part of primary care medical homes.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Explain the steps taken in Massachusetts to include public health and prevention as important components of health care reform Identify evidence-based and promising public health approached for those Discuss the strategies needed to create conditions where evidence-based and promising practice might be adopted

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As the Massachusetts Public Health commissioner I was a member of the team that implemented the Massachusetts health care reform (HCR) initiative which led the state to near universal health insurance coverage for its residents. My focus was on the role of public health in HCR. This included developing prevention and population health efforts that complemented health care delivery and taking action steps to enhance the quality of and access to care and control costs.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.