MA Nurses and Patients to Testify Today on Hospital Profit Transparency

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Wednesday, June 03, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

On Wednesday morning, nurses and patient advocates from across Massachusetts will testify in front of the Mass. Health Care Financing Committee on the Hospital Profit Transparency and Fairness Act. The act guarantees taxpayers' right to know exactly how their health care dollars are spent by hospital administrators.

The act is co-sponosred by State Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury) and State Representative Josh Cutler (D-Duxbury).

“As healthcare costs continue to grow for individuals across Massachusetts, the Commonwealth has been forced to increase healthcare expenditures at an unsustainable rate,” said Senator Moore.  “With so much of the system subsidized by taxpayers, citizens deserve to know that their tax dollars are being used to secure the best possible treatment for patients.  This bill greatly increases transparency and accountability at our hospitals, promoting responsible and effective spending of critical tax dollars.”

Wednesday's hearing of the bill comes as the legislature finalizes the state budget which will detail how much Massachusetts taxpayers' dollars will be provided to hospital administrators.

According to the Massachusetts Nurses Assocation and National Nurses Association, Hospital CEOs in Massachusetts "are paid excessive salary packages that bear no relationship to the quality of care and patient outcomes like readmission rates and infection rates, where our hospitals rank among the worst in the nation."

In order to highlight this issue, a Hospital CEO mascot dressed in a “Fat Cat” costume will deliver audible Cayman Island Greeting cards to all the legislators and the State House press corps.

Advocates will also provide lists of the more than 40 hospitals with funds stored in offshore accounts and urge legislators to demand greater transparency by passing the HPTFA. 

To ensure access to needed services by all patients, the act also provides enhanced funding options for hospitals serving poorer populations. Click here to view the full text of the bill.  

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