Investment may create more Boston healthcare jobs
Posted on October 30, 2018
A large investment may create more Boston healthcare jobs.
City officials announced investments totaling $50 million over five years to 35 community health centers (CHC) which serve thousands of individuals annually throughout the Commonwealth. During an event at the Lynn Community Health Center, Governor Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders highlighted how the funding will further provide treatment for young people and adults with behavioral health needs, and acknowledged the important role of CHCs in expanding access for opioid addiction treatment.
“Massachusetts is a national leader in health care coverage and today’s announcement will help ensure access to the vital medical and behavioral health treatment in health centers,” said Governor Baker. “Investing $50 million over five years to 35 community health centers builds on already historic funding increases for the Commonwealth’s behavioral health care services and delivers added support to treat individuals in the communities where they live and work.”
“The Commonwealth has a strong network of community health centers that play a vital role in the makeup of their communities and the lives of the people they serve and we are pleased that this investment will help continue their important work,” saidLt. Governor Karyn Polito.
In August, Governor Baker signed An Act for prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction. The law is the Baker-Polito Administration’s second major legislative action to address the opioid crisis since taking office in 2015, and expands the Commonwealth’s prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery strategies.
Building on the STEP Act which instituted the nation’s first seven day limit on new opioid prescriptions resulting in a 30 percent decline in opioid prescriptions, the law creates a commission to establish credentialing standards for recovery coaches; expands the use of medication assisted treatment in emergency departments and five Houses of Correction; and requires all prescribers to convert to secure electronic prescriptions by 2020.
Over the next five years, the investment to CHCs will increase provider rates for psychiatry services and medical visits provided to children and adults, beginning January 1, 2019. In addition, MassHealth is improving access to school-based health centers.