MIKE BARRETT









                           GOVERNOR '94






                P.O. Box 2193, Cambridge, MA 02238
               (617) 623-9494, (617) 628-0940 (FAX)


                 AN AGENDA FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM


Universal health care coverage for all Massachusetts citizens 
will be a fundamental goal of a Barrett administration.  A 
critical foundation for reform must be provided by passage of the 
Clinton-Kennedy Health Security Act now pending in Congress.  
Federal funding streams are crucial to our attaining three 
objectives: the education of physicians and other health care 
personnel at our world-class medical schools; the continuation of 
cutting-edge medical research and development; and the provision 
of subsidies to small businesses and low-income individuals who 
will otherwise face severe cost burdens in paying insurance 
premiums.

Mike will also press for:

    An employer mandate to provide health insurance for workers 
     and their families.

    A comprehensive benefits package, preferably defined by the 
     U.S. Congress, including reproductive health and mental 
     health benefits, wellness and fitness programs, preventive 
     medicine, prenatal care, and early childhood care including 
     immunizations.

    Portability of insurance policies, to allow individuals to 
     maintain their health insurance in-between jobs and from one 
     employer to the next.

    Purchasing alliances which enable small businesses and 
     individuals to leverage their buying power and obtain 
     lower-cost insurance.

    A requirement that hospitals draw up a community benefits 
     plan, an operational strategy for serving the surrounding 
     area's health care needs.

    A "consumer rights" process to provide feedback about 
     premature hospital discharges, lack of post-discharge 
     planning and follow-up, and inadequate qualityof care.

    A central registry of data pertaining to comparative 
     in-patient and out-patient treatment outcomes, to facilitate 
     consumer shopping among health care plans.

    A financial lending program designed to improve access to 
     primary care services in underserved areas through the 
     construction or renovation of
     community health care facilities and the introduction or 
     expansion of primary care services in existing facilities.




    A program of loans at favorable rates for physicians, 
     nurses, and other health care personnel entering primary 
     care practices or practices in underserved areas, building 
     on the University of Massachusetts' "learning contract" 
     idea.

    A directive to the Department of Public Health to draw up a 
     long-range plan for expanding the role of midwives, 
     certified nurse-midwives, nurse practitioners, and other 
     cost-effective, high-quality alternative sources of primary 
     and community care.

    Strict regulation of traditional insurance functions in 
     order to reduce paperwork and administrative costs.  

    Streamlined and standardized processing regimens for 
     insurance companies, including forms, reporting procedures 
     and data.

    Managed care protections for disabled and homeless persons 
     being served under Medicaid.

    An end to prohibitions on coverage of pre-existing 
     conditions.

    Protections of selective contracting by health care 
     providers, enabling them to negotiate better price deals for 
     goods and services.

    Relief from overly-intrusive utilization review practices.

    The option to consider or convert to a single-payer system.