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25)    Increase asthma treatment and prevention programs
Asthma is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States and has been increasing in prevalence for the past two decades. In 2001, self-reported data from the Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Survey System (BRFSS) indicated that asthma affected 460,000 adults in the Commonwealth or 9.5% of the population over the age of 18. Data from the same report showed that current asthma affected almost 9% of children under age 18.

25.a    The Department of Public Health should work with private insurance companies to increase resources available to manage and treat those with acute asthma

25.b    The Department of Public Health should replicate existing models for coordination between local health departments, housing authorities, and other municipal and state agencies

26)    Ensure that health insurance is universal and affordable.  
The enactment of the Commonwealth’s landmark universal health insurance law was an incredible leap forward for Massachusetts, and puts us on the cutting edge of ensuring that all of the residents have access to health insurance they can afford.  What remains to be done is to stand by the law and do whatever it takes to make it really work.  All parties involved, from the Commonwealth to insurance companies to businesses to individuals, have work to do to ensure that this is the case; the Commonwealth must ensure that all are doing their part.  Funding is not the only concern, however – in addition to ensuring that health insurance is universal and affordable, the state must ensure that all insurance plans cover the recommended preventative care services. 

26.a    Commonwealth Care, the State’s low- or no-cost health insurance for qualified residents, should guarantee subsidies for required health care

26.b    The legislature should direct cigarette taxes to unmet health needs

27)    Create a state Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities
The State-level office would monitor, assess, and address the social determinants of disparities of health access across executive branch departments, with the resources and authority to do so effectively.  Its functions would include:

• program and policy development, implementation, and oversight;
• training and technical assistance for legislative and executive branch staff;
• data collection and analysis;
• community engagement around combating racial, ethnic, and social disparities in health;
• and evaluation of the effectiveness of programs designed to minimize these disparities.

This idea was advanced by the Commission to End Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, and can be found in more detail in their Final Report from August 2007

27.a    The Legislature should create a statewide Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities

28)    Ensure linguistically accessible and culturally appropriate health care
Public health and prevention initiatives and health education and literacy programs should be targeted to populations that are most at-risk for health problems, particularly among minority communities.  These approaches must be culturally sensitive to the populations being targeted and accessible in diverse locations. 

28.a    The Department of Public Health should develop uniform standards for the use and reimbursement of interpreter services