In the past few years, a bigger spotlight has shone on the importance of mental health as part of our overall health. In fact, a 2018 study by the National Council for Well-being found that most Americans (76%) believe mental health is just as important as physical health. Despite this increased awareness, the study revealed … Read more
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 7-13) is a good opportunity to reflect on the increasing mental health challenges faced by children and youth. These trends have a ripple effect on families, as children’s mental health issues impact their parents’ health, work, and general wellbeing. Mental health issues are pervasive in our country. More than … Read more
By the ForHealth Consulting™ at UMass Chan Medical School Cultural Diversity Committee Please note: We will be modeling our language under the guidance of recent scientific literature and National Minority Health Month web communications.1,2 However, we recognize that the term “minority” is not often preferred by the populations being described.3 “Better Health through Better Understanding,” … Read more
This week, our country honors the importance of public health in our communities. Taking place April 3-9, National Public Health Week 2023 focuses on “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health,” highlighting how the connection to our community and culture impacts our health and well-being. Unfortunately, profound racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare have long been … Read more
In 1821, one of the most significant female leaders in American history was born right here in Massachusetts. Clara Barton is best known as the founder of the American Red Cross, as well as a noteworthy leader in my profession of nursing. She was a self-taught nurse, providing care for countless soldiers in the Civil … Read more
This month, like every March, we celebrate the great work of social workers, who have a true desire to help people and make society a better place. This year’s theme, Social Work Breaks Barriers, underscores the innovative ways in which social workers have empowered people to overcome challenges so they can live to their fullest … Read more
The rising cost of pharmaceuticals has partly been driven by expensive specialty medications, such as curative gene therapies. This has raised concerns from patients and payers over equitable access, long-term value, and efficiency of healthcare spending.1,2 For high-cost therapies with unclear value, payers are increasingly looking to engage in value-based contracts (VBCs) as a mode … Read more
Black History Month is a time for inspiration, reflection, and correction. The fight against the discrimination of Black people in all sectors of society—from employment to education to housing and healthcare—has a long and complex history. Black Americans continue to face disproportionate discrimination and oppression within our healthcare system. The advocacy of Black Americans and … Read more
Does your healthcare organization have clearly defined goals and metrics? Do teams and employees feel connected to these goals? Do they understand the impact they have on the metrics? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you may have an opportunity to enhance your organization’s strategic planning.
A new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule, effective July 1, 2022, will offer Medicaid patients access to needed therapies while providing options to engage in payment arrangements – value-based purchasing (VBP) – that allow flexibility for states, including the potential to only pay when a therapy actually works.1,2
What percentage of your healthcare organization’s employees is directly contributing to projects or initiatives aligned with company strategy? After organizational goals and objectives are established, do you have a process that engages employees in sharing the problems they see and ideas they have about reaching those goals?
For decades, Massachusetts has been an innovative leader in developing behavioral health programs and policies and implemented various statewide provider consultation programs aimed at addressing specific behavioral health (BH) conditions. However, the Commonwealth currently lacks a statewide program for primary care providers (PCPs) to consult with BH specialists about their adult patients’ BH conditions.