Health Unit Update April 22, 2024
Health Care Working Group Meeting Wed April 24 3-4:30 pm
The zoom link should be in your calendars. At this month’s meeting we’ve invited the consultants working with MassHealth on development of a new Member Advisory Committee (MAC) to discuss the work they're doing and hear your ideas on consumer engagement. For the remainder of the agenda we’ll cover CMS approval of the 1115 demonstration amendments, and share information on other developments.
Steward News: A Coalition has organized to pressure state leaders to keep Steward Hospitals open. This is the link to the website of the Mass Nurse’s Association with more information about an online petition and rallies scheduled outside Steward Hospitals starting April 23 at Morton Hospital in Taunton and continuing through April 29 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Boston.
Marsters v Healey This is Sunday’s Boston Globe story about last week’s settlement agreement, “Massachusetts commits $1 billion to move thousands out of nursing homes in wake of lawsuit settlement.” (April 21, 2024)
New member of MLRI’s Health Unit: Jeni Kaplan
Everyone at MLRI and particularly Vicky, Kate & Isabel are delighted to share the news that Jeni Kaplan will be joining the MLRI health unit next week. Many of you know Jeni from her work with CPR and with the DAM Coalition. Jeni was one of the plaintiff’s attorneys in the Marster’s litigation. This is her bio as it will soon appear on the MLRI staff list. Welcome Jeni!
Jennifer Hotchkiss Kaplan joined MLRI in 2024 as a health law attorney. Prior to MLRI, she worked at the Center for Public Representation as a senior attorney, providing individual representation and co-counseling in a systemic reform lawsuit focused on community integration, as well as working on policy advocacy and technical assistance on disability rights initiatives. Jennifer also spent ten years in the federal courts, where she clerked for three federal judges, including serving as chief of staff to the Honorable Michael A. Ponsor, United States District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Science from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a Juris Doctor from Western New England University School of Law.