2024 Annual State House Day

State House Day 2024: Advocating for Relief

State House Day 2024 was focused on what can be done legislatively to mitigate health care access challenges that have only deepened and multiplied over the past year.

This annual event provides a unique opportunity for community health center (CHC) leaders to interact directly with lawmakers — encouraging legislators to enact measures that facilitate better health care for all. Last year’s State House Day focused on how a reduced post-pandemic workforce had dramatically affected the ability of CHCs to meet care needs. This issue has continued through 2024, and other recent issues have further eroded CHCs capacity to deliver timely care.

Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers President and CEO Michael Curry, Esq., commenced the event by reminding attendees that State House Day 2023 focused on how the reduced post-pandemic workforce combined with increased demands for care was placing great strain on community health centers. That workforce, he explained, had not rebounded, and the strain on CHCs had increased in 2024 due to the recent influx of migrants to New England. Curry also anticipated that Steward Health’s bankruptcy — announced shortly before this year’s event at the Massachusetts State House — could profoundly deepen the crisis.

“We’re grateful to be here in the midst of what we believe will be an active and productive stretch for our legislature in addressing some deep challenges with our health system,” said Curry. “We anticipate seeing new bills on systemic health reform from the Senate in the coming weeks, a pharma bill from the House, movement on economic development legislation, and a housing bill. All of these are critical toward addressing our current health care crisis.”

Specific priorities cited by the Mass League included the establishment of a commercial payment floor ensuring commercial plans pay health centers no less than MassHealth; requiring all pharmaceutical manufacturers to ship drugs under the 340B program to pharmacies contracted by community health centers, which the Senate had included in its drug bill; $50 million in bond funding for community health centers’ capital needs; $20 million to fund programs developed by CHCs to recruit and train workers from the communities they serve; $5 million to fund community health workforce initiatives, such as loan repayment and retention bonuses; and $75 million toward funding stabilization and access expansion.

“As much as true systemic reform is needed, we also need immediate support from the legislature to help us mitigate the crisis that we’re seeing right now,” said Brockton Neighborhood Health Center CEO Sue Joss. “When we can’t see patients in primary care, they turn to the emergency room. In Brockton, that is an impossible situation. It’s not good for health inequity. It’s not good for the hospitals, and it’s especially untenable for the patients that we serve.”

Honoring Changemakers

It was also a day to highlight the impactful work of Boston-area CHCs and honor health care advocates making a difference in their communities. The event also provided an opportunity to honor those effecting change in their communities.

· Senator Michael Rodericks was honored for his work in public service and dedication to protecting the integrity of the Commonwealth’s health care centers.

· Senator Pavel Payano was honored for his dedication to giving back to the city of Lawrence, his efforts in protecting the 340B Drug Pricing Plan, and implementing a second Mobile Health Clinic.

· Representative Frank A. Moran was honored for his work in expanding the ever-growing health care workforce and introducing legislation focused on improving Medicaid and graduate medical education.

“You do this work because you believe in civil rights, equity, and not only addressing patients’ health care needs but also the conditions they live in,” said Curry.