Christine was a health care policy analyst before she became a State Representative. She has built upon her expertise to fix our broken health care system by taking on issues like reducing prescription drug costs and ensuring equal access to care. When Governor Baker tried to roll back Medicaid Expansion, Christine organized her colleagues to defeat the effort. There is no stronger advocate for meaningful Health Care reform and expansion.

Medicare for All

Issue
Our health care system as it exists today, specifically in Massachusetts, requires the expansion and improvement on the success that we have had in creating MassHealth. Moving toward a public option is always something that I will support no matter what. It’s the ultimate goal of my health care advocacy work - more care for more people that need it.

Christine’s Plan
I am a co-sponsor on H.1194 to establish medicare for all in Massachusetts. I am also a member of the Medicare for All Caucus in the State House and continue to be a part of the effort to get our State in shape to get to this place.

Prescription Drug Costs & Affordability

Issue
Prescription drug costs continue to rise, placing a significant burden on families and the state’s budget. The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission found that in 2018, MA drug spending increased by over 4% from the previous year, more than twice as much as overall health care spending.

This means higher out-of-pocket costs for patients, who may be less able to afford and take medications that their doctors prescribe. Massachusetts has a process where most in the health care system have come to the table to work to lower health care costs - including hospitals, insurers, businesses, providers, and consumers.

The pharmaceutical industry, however, has not yet been held accountable to participate in addressing health care costs.

Christine’s Plan
The goals of a bill that I have filed, H.1133, are to make drugs affordable to consumers, make pharmaceutical costs more transparent and affordable, contain MassHealth costs, and require the pharmaceutical industry to be part of health care cost containment. This comprehensive bill uses a variety of strategies to lower cost, including:

• Providing transparency on the underlying costs to produce prescription drugs, in comparison to marketing and administrative expenses

• Authorizing the state’s independent Health Policy Commission to set upper payment limits for unreasonably high-priced drugs

• Regulating and providing transparency for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)

• Requiring pharmacists to inform consumers if purchasing a drug at the retail price would be cheaper than using their insurance

• Providing tools to strengthen MassHealth’s ability to negotiate lower drug prices for its patients

• Creating “academic detailing”, an evidence-based education program for prescribers

Supported by
The Massachusetts Prescription Drug Affordability Coalition, a growing and diverse coalition including advocacy organizations, unions, medical societies and health plans.

Provider Network Transparency

Issue
Many insurance plans require people to use providers in the plan’s network, yet the insurer provider directories are often outdated and hold incorrect information. Providers may have moved, are no longer accepting new patients, and directories may not include language or specialty information. Outdated directories can be a huge impediment to those seeking care, especially for children in need of behavioral health care.

Christine’s Plan
This bill would require health plans to regularly update their provider directories to ensure accuracy and comprehensive information. It would also create a task force to understand how to improve the ability for patients to find the right providers

Supported by
This legislation is broadly supported by advocacy groups and health insurance plans. The Children’s Mental Health Campaign, Mass Collaborative, the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts support this legislation, and have worked collaboratively with Christine on this bill. 

Emergency Room Access & Safety

Issue
Senator Jehlen and I are working on this bill with Peter DeMarco, who tragically lost his wife Laura when she died of an asthma attack directly outside of the Somerville Hospital Emergency Room. While Somerville Hospital has made important changes, we want to ensure that this never happens again at another site. People in my community and throughout the Commonwealth should feel safe when they are seeking care, and understand how to access emergency care easily. Particularly in an emergency, patients need clear and obvious information about how to get care quickly.

Christine’s Plan
H.1850 would require the Department of Public Health to write and enforce regulations to require all hospitals in the Commonwealth to meet criteria to ensure safe patient care at all times in hospital emergency rooms. This includes signage, lighting, way-finding, and security monitoring of all entrance points, including adding panic buttons and doorbells.