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MGH Community News |
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MGH Community News |
| June 2022 | Volume 26 • Issue 6 |
Highlights
Sections Social Service staff may direct resource questions to the Community Resource Center, Hannah Perry, 617-726-8182. Questions, comments about the newsletter? Contact Ellen Forman, 617-726-5807. |
MA Legislature Considering Additional Protections for Abortion Providers and Additional Resources
As Beacon Hill lawmakers fiercely condemn the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Massachusetts House of Representatives is poised to pass new legislation to strengthen protections for abortion care providers and guarantee access to reproductive health care in the commonwealth. It also extends protections for providers delivering gender-affirming care, as worries mount that LGBTQ+ rights could soon be stripped away, as indicated by the Supreme Court ruling. But lawmakers stopped short of explaining what additional funding may be necessary to shore up security for abortion providers and prepare for an influx of out-of-state patients. “You see other states like Texas deputizing people to come in and arrest people in Massachusetts — that’s not going to be allowed,” House Speaker Ron Mariano told reporters Tuesday afternoon at the State House, following a closed-door caucus with House Democrats. The bill, which the House Ways and Means Committee released Tuesday morning, echoes Gov. Charlie Baker’s executive order issued Friday to shield providers as states across the country move to outlaw abortions and prosecute individuals providing care to their residents in safe haven states, including Massachusetts. Baker’s decree aligned with a Senate budget amendment successfully spearheaded by state Sen. Cindy Friedman. Mariano said part of the House’s goal is to codify Baker’s order into state law. He sidestepped outlining how the House’s bill deviates from Friedman’s amendment, though he said there were “major differences.” State Sen. Eric Lesser urged his colleagues Friday to pursue a constitutional amendment to fortify safeguards around abortion care, but Baker ruled out that proposal during a Monday news conference. “We already have a decision that was rendered by our Supreme Judicial Court many years ago that, for all intents and purposes, codified Roe as state law in Massachusetts,” Baker said. “And obviously, we have laws that have been passed in Massachusetts that do the same.” Under the House proposal, providers will not be disciplined or risk losing their credentials for delivering reproductive health care or gender-affirming health care services — as long as “they are lawful and consistent with good medical practice if they occurred entirely in the commonwealth.” Pharmacists, nurses, psychologists and social workers are afforded the same protections, according to the bill. Legislators have said they do NOT believe they can protect individuals from prosecution for violating the law of another state, but are confident they can prevent Massachusetts law enforcement from aiding out-of-state prosecution for activity that is legal here. That would mean not filing summons or cooperating with investigations for providers or patients, and not extraditing providers accused of violating laws in other states by treating patients in Massachusetts. |
People confronting so-called “adverse litigation” from outside of Massachusetts that infringes on abortion rights here can countersue under the House bill. In another major provision, the House bill establishes a standing order enabling licensed pharmacists, following a training program, to provide emergency contraception. The bill would also call for health insurers to provide abortion coverage without copayments or any form of cost-sharing. It would make emergency contraception more readily accessible by giving licensed pharmacists a standing order to dispense it on request. And it would create provisions that shield physicians, physician assistants, nurses, psychologists, and social workers from repercussions for providing legal abortion or transgender care. “The laws in Texas, and Oklahoma and places like that are not only limiting a woman’s right to control her own health care and her own body but they also have provisions that private citizens can sue people who are getting an abortion, or helping with reproductive care, who are providing abortion — all of that whole kind of plethora of things that happen when a woman goes to get care,” Friedman, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, said as she offered context for her budget amendment. “So this does not allow people to usurp our laws and regulations, but if they’re following them, this amendment is there for the purpose of giving them some level of protection. The Senate passed a similar measure as a budget amendment, but Mariano said there are “major differences” between the two bills that will need to be reconciled before a final version can be sent to Baker. Among the differences is a potentially significant addition to the state’s abortion law, which currently permits the procedure after 24 weeks of pregnancy only when a doctor deems it necessary to protect the patient’s life, physical health, mental health, or in cases of a “lethal” fetal anomaly. The House measure would expand the exemption after 24 weeks to include “severe” fetal anomalies. It also calls for the Department of Public Health to create regulations on when abortions could be performed after 24 weeks. Other Post-Roe Information and Resources What states have banned abortion? According to an October analysis from the Guttmacher Institute — a research and policy organization working to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights — 26 states are certain or likely to ban or heavily restrict abortion now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Abortion access in other New England states Abortion is generally legal and available in other New England states and there is no indication that will change anytime soon. But the details vary. New Hampshire recently enacted some restrictions on abortion, making it illegal to terminate a pregnancy after 24 weeks. The law also initially required all people seeking an abortion to first undergo an ultrasound. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu later signed an exception to that law, however, following heavy criticism from abortion rights activists and medical providers. The law now allows abortions after 24 weeks if the fetus has been diagnosed with "abnormalities incompatible with life." And, the ultrasound requirement was ultimately relaxed. An ultrasound only would be required if a doctor has reason to believe the fetus is older than 24 weeks. Meanwhile, other New England states have taken steps to strengthen abortion rights over the past three years. State lawmakers in Connecticut recently approved a bill that would expand the types of medical professionals who can provide abortion services. It also aims to shield providers from facing penalties under other states' anti-abortion laws. Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont quickly signed the bill into law. Rhode Island enshrined the right to an abortion into state law in 2019. Vermont also passed a law preserving the right to abortion in 2019, and voters will decide this fall whether to add an amendment protecting the "personal reproductive liberty" of residents to the state's constitution. Maine passed a law in 2019 saying the state would "not restrict a woman's exercise of her private decision to terminate a pregnancy before viability." Maine also expanded abortion access by allowing nurse practitioners, physician assistants and certified nurse-midwives to terminate pregnancies. Medication Abortion Providers are working to get the word out about medication abortion — which is already used in at least 54% of terminated pregnancies in the U.S. The pills are regulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration, not by individual states. Patients can obtain the pills via telehealth visits and mail, though some states have tried to curb access by outlawing telehealth to obtain a prescription from a provider. "Getting medication into the hands of folks as soon as they realize they need abortion care is going to be critical to prevent people from traveling," said Hart Holder. Abortion funds anticipate increase in requests for help post-RoeWhen a pregnant person can't travel to access an abortion, or doesn't have the money for pay for the procedure in general, that's where abortion funds come in. Abortion funds work to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access. They exist in all 50 states as part of The National Network of Abortion Funds. A message on the organization's website currently states they are experiencing "unprecedented traffic." Abortion in MA is at Risk Abortion remains safe and legal in New England, providers emphasized. But Hart Holder (Rebecca Hart Holder, executive director of Massachusetts nonprofit Reproductive Equity Now. ) warned against the use of words like "sanctuary," calling the possibility of a federal abortion ban "very real." - Sources and for more information:
MassHealth Infant Formula Flexibilities As a reminder, MassHealth covers formula for members when it is medically needed (e.g., allergies, nutrient absorption syndromes, feeding tubes, etc.) MassHealth has waived prior authorization for formula at pharmacies, and both MassHealth and the Division of Insurance (DOI) and are directing health plans to waive any prior authorization for formula needed for medical reasons. MassHealth has also put flexibilities in place that allow durable medical equipment (DME) providers to provide formula to members prior to an administrative approval and streamlined the administrative approval process. MassHealth has released the attached guidance to providers and managed care plans, outlining all of the items above, as well as more general information about access to formula. More information can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/formula-update-for-masshealth-members---unpublished?auHash=F_E6zQ8OAQiNVPvO2__c-qQWN57Pp3-5JBreo9_ugjs If families are experiencing challenges locating standard formula, they should contact their local WIC office, the 800- number on the back of their WIC Card, or by email to wicinfo.dph@massmail.state.ma.us. (More on WIC flexibilities from last month’s newsletter.) - From MassHealth.Innovations (EHS), Fri, Jun 3, 2022 courtesy of Vicky Pulos, MLRI.
988 - New National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to Launch July 16 In 2020, Congress designated a new three-digit dialing code – 988 – that will route callers to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL). The new three-digit code will take effect on July 16, 2022. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), is working to launch the new 988 code, which is expected to strengthen and expand the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Moving to 988 does not mean the current 800 number (1-800-273-8255) for Lifeline goes away. Dialing either number will route callers to the same services, no matter which number they use. Benefits of switching to 988Switching to a three-digit number means that callers who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts, who are at risk of suicide, or who are struggling with emotional distress will be able to call 988, an easy-to-remember number. This will make it easier for Americans in crisis or who are worried about a friend or loved one to access the help they need, while decreasing the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues. Much like the use of 911 for emergency response, calling 988 will deliver a full range of crisis care services, essential to meeting behavioral health crisis needs across the nation. Planning for 988 in MassachusettsMassachusetts is working with a wide range of partner organizations and healthcare providers on the transition from the current 10-digit number (1-800-273-8255) to the new three-digit 988. When does 988 take effect? 988 will go live on July 16, 2022. Individuals who need help today should call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by calling 1-800-273- 8255 (1-800-273-TALK) and through online chat, suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.) Is 988 accessible to all callers and are there services available for specific groups?Those who are Deaf or hard of hearing may use the online chat function or TTY users may use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255. Additional information: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Service Members, Veterans, and their Families may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing, as well as by chatting online at veteranscrisisline.net or texting 838255. LGBTQ youth may also use the Trevor Lifeline by calling 1-866-488-7386 or texting 678-678 to access information and support for LGBTQ youth. How will 988, 911, and the Emergency Services Program interact?Increased collaboration between 988, 911, and the Emergency Services Program will give more options for those in crisis, such as dispatching mobile crisis teams to individuals in mental health, substance use or suicidal crisis rather than police, fire, or EMS, and greater coordination of care options like crisis stabilization units. Will text and chat capabilities be available for 988?Chat is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s website suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat. People seeking chat services will be provided a pre-chat survey before connecting with a counselor that identifies the main area of concern. If there is a wait to chat with a crisis counselor, a wait-time message will appear. If demand is high, individuals can access the Lifeline’s “helpful resources” while waiting or call 1-800-273-8255 (or 988 after July 16, 2022). Once connected, a crisis counselor will listen to you, work to understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share resources that may be helpful. Text will be available through 988 by July 16, 2022. When someone texts to 988, they will be responded to by a group of Lifeline crisis centers that respond to chat and text. Planning and developing infrastructure to increase local response to text and chat is underway. Once connected, a crisis counselor will listen to you, work to understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share resources that may be helpful. Additional Resources The following are resources that may be of help to someone at risk for suicide or self-harm, and for their families and friends.
More resources can be found at the suicide prevention resources page at mass.gov. - See the full press release with additional material from WickedLocal.
DTA to Allow SNAP Medical Expense Self-Declaration within Standard Medical Deduction Range Under the SNAP rules, persons ages 60+ OR who receive disability-based benefits can claim medical costs to reduce countable income and thereby maximize SNAP benefits. Claiming medical expenses ensures households are getting all the SNAP they are eligible for - both now and in the future when the Emergency Allotments end (the current COVID policy of everyone receiving the maximum SNAP benefit). While we do not know when the EAs will end, it will almost certainly not be before November 2022. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has approved DTA’s request to implement a major, exciting policy change to make this process MUCH easier for older adults and persons with disabilities: SNAP households 60+ and/or getting a disability benefit can self-declare in writing or verbally with DTA their medical costs between $35 and $155 a month. This leverages the standard medical expense deduction from income which then increases benefits. This flexibility will allow clients to access the medical deduction without the burden of collecting multiple receipts and documents. In addition, DTA staff will see a reduction in the administrative burden of reviewing and entering documents, as the Department prepares for the sunsetting of the Public Health If a household claims costs over $190 ($35 threshold plus $155/mo), all medical costs will need to be verified.
Many thanks to DTA for pursuing this first in the nation verification waiver with USDA, and thanks to all the Coalition members who advocated for this policy with USDA, especially Mass Senior Action members who shared their personal experiences regarding medical costs with FNS as well as to AARP MA and Mass Councils on Aging (MCOA). - From SNAP Updates: Free Child Care under SNAP ET; New SNAP Policy on Medical Expenses, RMP - and Calls to Congress Needed!, Pat Baker, MLRI, June 23, 2022 with additional material from DTA Online Guide Transmittal 2022-49, June 21, 2022.
Certain SNAP Families Can Now Get 12 Months of Free Child Care! Parents who participate in a “SNAP Path to Work” program - DTA’s SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP ET) programs for SNAP households - can now get a child care referral for eligible kids under age 13. The referral allows the family to connect to free child care via a voucher. The voucher lasts for 12 months - even if the family begins working during that time. At the end of the 12 months these families can transition to income-eligible child care vouchers without a waitlist. This is huge news for families who struggle with child care cost barriers.
- From SNAP Updates: Free Child Care under SNAP ET; New SNAP Policy on Medical Expenses, RMP - and Calls to Congress Needed!, Pat Baker, MLRI, June 23, 2022.
New SNAP Online Ordering Stores - Wegmans & McKinnon’s The addition of these two retailers brings the total number of SNAP online retailers in the program to 11. For more information on the Massachusetts program, visit - From SNAP Updates: Free Child Care under SNAP ET; New SNAP Policy on Medical Expenses, RMP - and Calls to Congress Needed!, Pat Baker, MLRI, June 23, 2022.
Recently, the federal government announced that SNAP recipients are now categorically eligible for Head Start programs- meaning they qualify without having to meet separate criteria. DTA is including Head Start flyers and information with the P-EBT notices going to families with children under the age of six. (P-EBT for kids under 6 on SNAP from Sept - Nov 2021 will go out on 6/25). - From SNAP Updates: Free Child Care under SNAP ET; New SNAP Policy on Medical Expenses, RMP - and Calls to Congress Needed!, Pat Baker, MLRI, June 23, 2022.
Coming Soon- OK to Use SNAP at Participating Restaurants and Food Trucks The Baker-Polito Administration today opened a Notice of Opportunity (NOO) to strategically onboard restaurants and food trucks for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) pilot. Under federal rules, the RMP allows individuals experiencing homelessness, individuals with disabilities and households with older adults aged 60 and older to use their SNAP benefits at select, participating restaurants and food trucks that offer reduced-price meal options. Once launched, this program will expand food choice options and food access points for populations that may encounter barriers and challenges with purchasing and storing groceries, as well as cooking and preparing meals for themselves. Restaurants and food trucks can apply now through the end of the summer. The Administration anticipates the option for clients to use their benefits at the approved businesses will begin in fall 2022. Learn more about the NOO and RMP program at Mass.gov/SNAPRestaurants. Applicants for the Notice of Opportunity will be evaluated on a multitude of criteria. These include their ability to respond to the needs of prioritized communities and eligible populations, inclusive of areas where food insecurity and rates of chronic disease have historically been disproportionately high, and areas classified as food deserts and environmental justice neighborhoods with limited existing access or other food access barriers. Businesses who demonstrate they can service SNAP clients with disabilities and those with other accessibility challenges, especially restaurants that are able to provide delivery services and food trucks that can meet clients where they live and work, will also be strongly considered. Further, applications will be evaluated on their ability to provide healthy and reduced-price food options, as well as their commitment and ties to their local communities, including their ability to serve SNAP clients in culturally appropriate ways. - See the full press release. Thanks to Pat Baker, MLRI for sharing this exciting news.
A New – and Faster – Way to Request a Social Security Card Do you need to apply for an original or replacement Social Security Number card? We now have a new – and faster – way for you to start online. When you go to our Social Security Number and Card webpage, we now ask you a series of questions to determine whether you can:
Once you complete your application (online or in-person), we will mail the card after we process the application. Please understand that we don’t issue cards at our offices. Finish your application in the officeIf you need to visit an office, please follow these steps to complete the application:
You’ll receive the card in the mail, usually within 7 – 10 business days. Check your local office’s status If you need to visit an office, we encourage you to first check the office’s status at our Office Closings and Emergencies page. Our offices tend to be the busiest in the morning, early in the week, and during the early part of the month. You may want to plan to visit at other times. - See the full SSA blog post.
My Social Security- What You Can Do with Your Online Account Ten years ago, we launched our my Social Security service to offer more secure and convenient self-service options online. If you haven’t signed up yet, please visit our website to create your my Social Security account free-of-charge. Or if you haven’t used your account recently, check out the impressive list of self-service options. What can you do with your online account? If you don’t currently receive benefits, you can:
If you receive benefits, you can:
Sign in to your my Social Security account now. - See the full SSA blog post.
Biden Boosts LGBTQI Protections, Bans Conversion Therapy President Joe Biden this month issued an executive order banning conversion therapy and offering other LBGTQI+ protections as part of White House efforts to advance equality during Pride Month. "My order will use the full force of the federal government to end inhumane practices of conversion therapy," Biden said in a speech before signing the order. "This is the first time the federal government is making a coordinated effort against this dangerous and discredited practice." Conversion therapy is any emotional or physical therapy used to “cure” or “repair” a person’s attraction to the same sex, or their gender identity and expression. Providers claim these therapies can make someone heterosexual or “straight.” But there’s no evidence to support this. Medical and mental health experts have rejected conversion therapy practices as dangerous and discriminatory for decades. The executive order also addresses:
Enforcement of executive order will rely on legal experts, including the Justice Department. The American Psychiatric Association applauded Biden’s action. Biden’s executive order will “protect the mental health of LGBTQ+ people, particularly children. APA has long condemned the practice of so-called 'conversion therapy' and we welcome the federal government’s efforts to raise public awareness about its harms, alongside other practices that will help to end it." President Biden’s history-making executive order directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to publish a “Bill of Rights for LGBTQI+ Older Adults” and new guidance on the nondiscrimination protections for older people in long-term care settings. It also charges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with “exploring new rulemaking to establish that LGBTQI+ individuals are included in the definition of populations of “greatest social need” under the Older Americans Act.” The executive order takes a critical step forward in protecting and supporting LGBTQ+ elders, who face higher rates of poverty, acute social isolation, and severe challenges accessing culturally competent services and supports. Biden also called on Congress to pass the Equality Act "to enshrine the long overdue civil rights to protect all Americans." Read the full executive order.- See the full Medscape article and with additional material from Advancing the Rights of LGBTQI+ Older Adults Through Executive Action, Justice in Aging, June 23, 2022 and Biden issues first ever Executive Order to mandate federal policy action for LGBTQ+ elders, Michael Adams, SAGE, June 17, 2022.
Undocumented Immigrants Can Get Mass. Drivers’ Licenses in July 2023 The Massachusetts legislature completed its override of Gov. Charlie Baker’s veto this month, allowing immigrants without legal status to obtain a driver’s license in Massachusetts. The state is the 17th, in addition to Washington, DC, to adopt that policy. The policy will go into effect July 1, 2023. Advocates hailed the measure as a humanitarian boon to immigrants that will also improve public safety. Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat and a lead sponsor of the bill, said the bill will alleviate some of the fears immigrants have associated with law enforcement interactions. “For many, it might be hard to imagine that simply being pulled over or being involved in a minor fender bender can drastically alter your life and put your residency in jeopardy,” Gomez said. “For undocumented immigrants, it’s something they live with daily.” Advocates for the bill portray it as a way to help immigrants provide for their basic needs, while enhancing safety on the roads, since there will be fewer people driving without a license and insurance. “Our roads are safer when every single driver has to pass a road test, a vision test, and obtain insurance,” said Sen. Brendan Crighton, Senate chair of the Transportation Committee. But opponents worry about encouraging illegal immigration, about security issues, and the potential for illegal voting. In his veto message, Baker said the Registry of Motor Vehicles does not have the capacity to verify foreign documents. “I cannot sign this legislation because it requires the Registry of Motor Vehicles to issue state credentials to people without the ability to verify their identity,” Baker wrote. While the bill requires two forms of identity, these can include foreign documents. Republican auditor candidate Anthony Amore, who previously worked as an immigration inspector, has repeatedly raised the concern that RMV employees will not know whether a foreign document is legitimate. Baker and other opponents have also worried that non-citizens will be able to use their licenses to improperly register to vote – although proponents of the bill point out other non-citizens like Green Card holders can already obtain licenses but not vote. - See the full CommonWealth Magazine article.
Cambridge Health Alliance Opens Inpatient Children's Psychiatry Center in Somerville The Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) opened the Center for Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at its Somerville campus on Tuesday. The new center adds more than 40 beds for children, adolescents and youth with autism spectrum disorders, more than doubling the hospital’s previous capacity. CHA will add 42 new child, adolescent and specialized youth autism/ neurodevelopmental beds at its Somerville Campus, more than doubling CHA's capacity to 69 youth beds (an increase of 156 percent) as they are phased in (view a virtual tour here). The Center for Inpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatry includes:
Additionally, CHA will convert two units at its Cambridge Hospital campus to adult inpatient psychiatry units. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2022, this will result in 22-24 new adult beds. In total, CHA will add 64-66 inpatient psychiatry beds to meet regional and state needs, adding to its current 89-bed inpatient behavioral health services (for a total of 155 inpatient beds) for patients of all ages from youth to older adults. - See the CHA press release and the full WGBH story.
Host Homes is a short-term intervention with a long-term impact, and it provides youth experiencing homelessness or housing insecurities an opportunity for a fresh start. Host Homes provides a safe, temporary, welcoming space for up to six months where young people have time to repair their relationships with self-identified family or make decisions about other housing options with the support of a caring housing case manager. Host Homes @ BAGLY is an innovative, holistic program to address LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in Massachusetts for LGBTQ+ youth 18-24 years old. Youth participants' material, mental, emotional, and skills-building needs are addressed through curricula, casework, and clinical care. Want more info? Contact T’Ajmal Hogue at thogue@bagly.org or see: https://www.bagly.org/host-homes - From Please join us for our monthly Homeless Youth Providers Engaging Together (HYPET) meeting on Thursday, June 9th!, Luke Benson, MA Coalition for the Homeless, May 31, 2022.
New Eyes Website – Eyeglass Assistance New Eyes assists individuals in the United States, who have no other resources to obtain a basic pair of eyeglasses so they can have clear vision and ensure their safety, help them do better in school and at work and improve their overall quality of life. We provide a basic pair of single or lined bifocal lenses at no cost to the client. Approved applicants pay no out-of-pocket costs to receive their New Eyes glasses. Applications are submitted online. It is optimal for social service agencies/health advocates to apply on a client’s behalf. However, for individuals who do not have access to an agency, they may apply directly but must provide proof of eligibility. If the application is approved, a unique e-voucher number is emailed with a link to our eyeglass ordering site and instructions on how to order eyeglasses. Approved applicants must order their glasses through New Eyes' online eyeglasses dispenser at neweyesglasses.org. Eligibility Guidelines New Eyes purchases new prescription eyeglasses for low-income individuals in the U.S. through an e-voucher program. To be eligible for our program, applicants must:
More information: see the website: https://new-eyes.org/ email us at info@new-eyes.org. - Thanks to Jane Lee for sharing this resource.
Every month, Newton-based nonprofit Welcome Home distributes like-new, donated household items to roughly 75 families experiencing hardship. Among them are immigrants who are new to the area, people in domestic violence survivor programs, and families moving out of shelters into affordable housing. Most of the families it serves are large, intergenerational households, said Welcome Home founder Julie Plaut Mahoney. “There’s something really beautiful about that amplification. You give one woman one pan, but how many people is she making eggs for?” In May, Welcome Home received the 2022 Green Newton Nonprofit Leadership Award, acknowledging its role in community service and climate action — the group’s work not only helps people in need but keeps usable household items in circulation and out of landfills. The nonprofit also moved into a brand-new home of its own. After more than three years in a 250-square-foot space in Newton Centre’s Trinity Church, Welcome Home relocated to a 1,600-square-foot space that formerly housed Newton Fire and Flood on Washington Street in West Newton. The new rooms are organized and thoughtfully curated — one is full of essentials, from dishes and cookware to linens, lamps, and vacuum cleaners; another filled with decorative items like artwork, cushions, vases, throw rugs, things that can make a living space feel like a home. “It allows them an expression of who they are,” said Welcome Home board member/volunteer Lynne Cohen-Friedman. “Watching people choose special items from this room [of decor] — it can bring tears to your eyes.” To receive items from Welcome Home, people in need can fill out a detailed wish list of requested items on the organization’s website. Basic items like linens and dishes are pre-packed for clients to pick up at their arranged appointment, during which they can also pick from the new rooms on-site. The organization’s 80-plus volunteers — women, men, and children — unload, sort, organize, and repack donations to keep the location stocked. And some take items home to clean or repair. With demand soundly outpacing capacity, Welcome Home currently has an eight-week waiting list for client appointments to receive goods, but continues to welcome donations. “Stuff goes out as quickly as it comes in,” Plaut Mahoney said. The new facility affords Welcome Home the space to accept more donated home goods — more than 200 boxes each month — as homeowners and renters clear out items they no longer use. Donations often come from decluttering projects, attic clean-outs, seniors downsizing, and families moving. Drop-off days are currently Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday with a reservation. Any items Welcome Home can’t use are repurposed, recycled, or donated to agencies like homeless shelters and animal rescues. Plaut Mahoney said the organization is also starting to cultivate corporate givers, like Waltham-based home accessories retailer Ambesonne, which donates overstock linens, and the New England Patriots, who donate themed twin blankets and sheets. As a private nonprofit organization, Welcome Home requires no proof of need from clients, unlike many governmental agencies. Jewish Family & Children’s Service frequently works with Welcome Home to set up needed items for families, often delivering to people without transportation. Ellen Jawitz, the service’s family resource coordinator, recalled one family — a mother, father, and newborn — who had just moved from a shelter into subsidized housing. “They had literally nothing, no dishes, no sheets,” said Jawitz. “When we delivered a box of items from Welcome Home, the mom unwrapped each one and she was crying. This was helping her set up a home for her family; that every item was beautiful and wrapped with care held a lot of meaning for her.” - See the full Boston Globe article.
MGH Digital Access Coordinator Program Launches The Digital Access Coordinator program was developed as a United Against Racism initiative to address gaps in digital literacy and increase patient access to MGB’s digital tools. The Digital Access Coordinator (DAC) workforce includes 12 bilingual DACs who are available to enroll and train patients to use Patient Gateway and other digital health tools, like virtual visits. To reach as many of our patients as possible, the DAC team covers the 6 languages most commonly spoken by our non-English speaking patients: Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Russian, Cantonese/Mandarin, and Arabic. A pilot was scheduled to be launched on Thursday, June 23rd, that places 4 DACs at two locations on MGH’s Main Campus (Wang lobby, and Yawkey lobby). Staff will be able to refer patients to the DACs through Epic, allowing them to get in-person assistance from a trained coordinator who speaks their language. Our goal for this pilot is to increase digital access for some of our most vulnerable patients by meeting them where they are and giving them the tools they need to successfully manage their healthcare. What is the Digital Access Coordinator Program?
Who are the Digital Access Coordinators?
How is this being implemented at MGH?
- Thanks to Carmen Vega-Barachowitz for sharing this resource from MGH Equity and Inclusion.
New MGB Employee Resource Group Platform We are excited to announce our new platform for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). Check out Communities @ Mass General Brigham to connect with fellow employees and engage with ERGs across our system. The exciting benefits of this platform enable you to:
This one-stop-shop for ERGs will allow you to find your voice, feed your passion and get involved. You do not have to be an ERG member to check out the platform or join a listed event. We look forward to connecting with you! - From New Employee Resource Group Platform and Upcoming Events, Mass General Brigham Office of DE&I, June 15, 2022.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Assistance Through Tuition.io for MBG Employees Mass General Brigham recognizes that many employees are impacted by the financial stress of student debt. We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Tuition.io, a comprehensive education assistance program, to help you manage, and over time, eliminate student debt. As a qualified not-for-profit employer, employees working for Mass General Brigham may qualify for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Public Service Loan Forgiveness provides the potential for you to have a portion of your student loan debt forgiven or waived. Tuition.io provides no-cost tools and resources that can help you navigate the application process. Now is a great time to explore PSLF, as the U.S. Department of Education has provided a temporary waiver period (until October 31, 2022) during which borrowers can receive credit for payments that previously did not qualify for PSLF, such as direct loan payments that were not made under an income-driven repayment plan. Learn about your eligibility for PSLF, review the frequently asked questions and read more about the Tuition.io services available to you on Ask My HR. - Thanks to Carmen Vega-Barachowitz for forwarding this resource that originally appeared in a Broadcast MGB message on June 27, 2022.
As Mental Health Crisis Worsens, Record-Setting Investment Languishes The $400 million in federal funding allocated by the state to mental health was seen as a watershed moment in addressing the growing crisis, a record-setting sum that advocates said would make a meaningful dent in the problem. Six months later, half of the allocation has languished, mired in bureaucratic infighting. Delayed fixes occurred as the state has struggled to bring about comprehensive and longer-term mental health care reforms. Meanwhile, the state’s mental health care crisis has only worsened, resulting in more and sicker patients coming to emergency rooms and waiting days or weeks for a psychiatric bed. Lawmakers have tried to address it, ultimately agreeing in December to a Senate proposal to allocate $400 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act spending bill — an amount advocates said was one of the largest funding amounts to be put toward the behavioral health crisis in decades. Governor Charlie Baker signed off on half of the plan, including $110 million for a loan repayment assistance program for mental health professionals who agreed to work in community health centers, mental health centers, and inpatient psychiatric facilities. Another $15 million would go for primary care workforce development at community health centers, and $11.6 million would be put toward a mental health nurse practitioner fellowship program. Millions more was allocated for behavioral health services at multiple locations, workforce development programs, an online portal that would allow emergency room clinicians to view available behavioral health beds across the state and public awareness campaigns. But the sides began to squabble over who would get to allocate $198 million put in a newly created behavioral health trust fund, for more thoughtful fixes of the state’s mental health problem. Lawmakers wanted an advisory committee to make recommendations to the Legislature no later than March 1, so they could appropriate the funds. Despite Baker continually referencing the quick need for the funding, the sides volleyed the legislation back and forth for the next 5½ months. The bill stalled in the House twice, once after Baker punted it back to the Legislature with an amendment, and again after he vetoed the language entirely in mid-April. The House ultimately voted to override the veto on May 26, with the Senate concurring the same day. David Matteodo, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems, who is an appointee to the envisioned advisory committee, said he has not yet heard when the group will meet. Meanwhile, Baker set forth his own health care legislation in March that would increase investments in primary and behavioral health care. A hearing on the bill was held in April. Advocates are quick to point out that the state has been working to solve the behavioral health crisis, and has dispersed millions in other funding for both short- and long-term solutions. In February 2021, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services released a plan to reform the state’s behavioral health network, proposing a centralized service for people who wanted to find mental health or addiction treatment, a type of urgent care for behavioral health issues, and expanded inpatient psychiatric bed capacity. Danna Mauch, CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health, said other pieces of the road map are underway, including the designation of community behavioral health centers, which will become a statewide network of providers to help people in crisis, as an alternative to the emergency department. The state has also put out bids for a vendor that will oversee a behavioral health help line, set to go live in January, where people can access clinicians who can direct them to care. MassHealth too has invested heavily in mental health reforms, providing supplemental reimbursements to support services emergency rooms give to patients waiting for a psychiatric bed. In January, the administration announced that MassHealth’s temporary pandemic 10 percent rate increase for outpatient behavioral health would be permanent. MassHealth also launched a new behavioral health urgent care program in February, which incentivizes mental health centers that serve MassHealth members to extend hours for those with urgent behavioral health needs. A hospital diversion program to help discharge patients from emergency departments was additionally expanded by the administration from an initial pilot of 12 hospitals to 45 hospitals. As of late May, the program had assisted 448 adults and 275 youths. Despite those gains, many recognized that more was needed. “We have a fundamental, systematic problem that we have not addressed fully,” Senator Cindy Friedman said. “There is a lot more to do.” - See the full Boston Globe article.
Hotel-Based Homeless Shelters Changed Lives in Pandemic - Some Want Them to be a Model Moving Forward Tracey Williams has been without a home for about half her life. The 60-year-old said she's cycled in and out of housing and homelessness because of substance use disorder, trauma and mental illness. Last winter, while Williams was staying at Pine Street Inn's women's shelter in Boston, workers asked if she'd like to stay at Charles River Inn in Brighton. Pine Street is running the hotel as temporary shelter in the pandemic. Williams described the move to her 300-square-foot hotel room as a "step up" from life in a crowded shelter where she had no privacy. "I think this is an awesome place," Williams said, beaming as she welcomed guests into her room last February. "... It's just me and my roommate. I really believe that it helps with the transition [out of homelessness]." Williams is one of hundreds of Massachusetts residents experiencing homelessness who stayed in a hotel or motel during the pandemic. For many months, the state funded hotels for people who had mild COVID but didn't have a home where they could isolate. Shelter providers have used motels to reduce crowding and health risks at their main sites. For Williams and many others, this pandemic-linked effort has been a stabilizing force. Regular meetings at the hotel with case managers from Pine Street Inn and other organizations helped her look for housing and stay connected with services. Williams said it's a lot easier to address personal challenges when living in a quiet, comfortable space. After moving to the hotel shelter, she said she felt less depressed and more motivated to attend her job training program and methadone treatment. "I just came in here, and I hit the floor running," Williams said. "School, work — I just did everything I needed to do." Leaders of this and other hotel-based shelters said it's easier to give clients greater attention when they stay in the same room. At typical shelters, guests are required to leave during the day and may not return. Here, people are regularly around. According to the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA), approximately 1,000 hotel and motel beds have been leased as shelter space during the pandemic. The nonprofit advocacy and policy organization said about 600 are still in use, paid for with state and federal funds. "This is a new piece of strategy that really helped," said Gerry McCafferty, director of housing for the city of Springfield. "I can't think of a single instance where someone said no," McCafferty said. "We found someone in a park here who had been severely mentally ill and had been really off the grid, and had been living outside for 13 years ... never interested in any conversation. [He was] never interested in any services, but the hotel room, he was willing to take. And he's someone who is now moving toward housing." That's happened over and over again, according to McCafferty. Advocates and leaders in Springfield have found it much easier to bring people into hotel- and motel-based shelters. And, they've seen more success moving people out of those facilities and into permanent housing with supportive services. City officials examined data over a 22-month period that ended in April and found 46% of people who left local hotel shelters did so to enter permanent housing. By contrast, just 16% of people who stopped staying at the traditional adult homeless shelters in the area left them to enter permanent housing. Not all providers observed that kind of success, according to leaders at MHSA. But, they said, that's largely due to a tight housing market, made worse by the pandemic causing fewer renters to move. People experiencing homelessness who have physical disabilities or chronic health conditions also benefit greatly from non-congregate shelter settings, according to McCafferty. Guests are told they must leave the properties to use drugs or alcohol. At the Motel 6 in Holyoke, they have an 11 p.m. curfew, and a staff member has to let them into their rooms. Staffers check on guests every day, and they're given multiple chances to abide by the rules if they struggle, Nicholson said. But clients aren't under constant supervision, and staff at the motel have administered Narcan twice to reverse overdoses, according to Center for Human Development. Another guest died from an overdose. As difficult as those situations are, Nicholson said sometimes that "prompts someone else to say, 'I'm ready for help.' " A 'grand pivot'According to homeless service providers and advocates, leasing hotels, motels, and even college dorms as shelter during the pandemic proved safer and healthier from the start. Rates of COVID-19 infection in shelters dropped, and providers realized they didn't want to return to overcrowded facilities. "There was kind of this grand pivot to really starting to look at this differently, like ... a sense of not only were we depopulating, now we really shouldn't go back," said Joyce Tavon, senior director of policy and programs at MHSA. State Rep. Natalie Higgins, of Leominster, wants the non-congregate model to become the standard for homeless shelters in Massachusetts. She said nearly 30% of her office's constituent services cases involve people experiencing homelessness or facing eviction. After seeing the success of a hotel shelter in her district, she sponsored a bill that calls on the state to transition away from congregate homeless shelters within five years. Higgins would like to see non-congregate shelters in every region of the state, open for guests 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She also wants there to be a universal system for how unaccompanied adults enter nearby shelters. The current patchwork of adult shelters is different from the family homeless shelter program, which is run by the state and has clear steps for families to sign up. There's resistance to Higgins' bill from some shelter leaders. They say they're concerned they could be forced to remodel or rebuild, without proper funding or an overall plan from the state. A focus on housingThe bill also calls on the state to scale up permanent housing for vulnerable populations. Many advocates say that's where energy and funding should be focused. "If you can get a hotel or if you can get a building, it should be all about housing," said John Yazwinski, president and CEO of Father Bill's & MainSpring. The nonprofit runs emergency homeless shelters and permanent housing programs on the South Shore. Early in the pandemic, it rented a struggling hotel in Brockton for some of its shelter guests. It then went a step further; it purchased the hotel to convert it to 69 units of permanent supportive housing. It's the first time a homeless service provider in Massachusetts has done that. So far, 17 people have moved in as tenants, including 73-year-old Ray Allen Gaessler. Father Bill's & MainSpring is able to convert the hotel for about half of what it normally costs to develop affordable housing, since the bones of the rooms and bathrooms were already there. It's about $150,000 per unit, with a total project cost of just over $10 million — mostly paid for with state dollars, along with some private grants, according to Yazwinski. The whole thing happened in record time for the organization, he said; it helped that the nonprofit had deep experience both developing and operating housing properties. This is its biggest to date. And the local community supported the project. Smaller homeless service organizations often run into resistance and financial roadblocks, including market competition for potential properties. Yazwinski said he hopes that will change — and that this moment won't be lost. "We don't want hotels to go out of business. But ... if it's going to be a place that sits, you know, or struggles, then let's look at it as a great opportunity," he said. "It's time to end homelessness. Let's all get the political will needed at the local, state and federal level to do it now." According to The Massachusetts Lodging Association, a very small percentage of hotels and motels in the state have gone out of business or up for sale during the pandemic. It doesn't collect data on hotel closings. - See the full WBUR story.
Significant Portions of City Neighborhoods in Mass. Lack Internet Access State officials have spent years expanding broadband access in rural communities. Now, their focus needs to turn to urban neighborhoods. The numbers tell a startling story in many cities: 59 percent of homes in Chelsea lack adequate broadband service, for example, and 56 percent in Fall River. The numbers are also high in Springfield (54 percent)and Lawrence (50 percent), as well as Salem, New Bedford, and Pittsfield (all 48 percent). Boston is at 43 percent, compared with the state average of 34 percent. While rural broadband efforts have focused on stringing wires through remote communities, urban broadband access can be a more complex issue. Many households in these cities have broadband lines running on their streets, but the report notes they might have inadequate wiring inside buildings, too many users on the same connection, or no ability to pay for a high-speed plan. The report also raises the issue of inadequate competition: The average download speed is notably slower in communities with only one provider of broadband service (as defined by download speeds of 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of 3 Mbps). The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of digital access for everything from healthcare to school to shopping. “We need these technologies now more than ever,” said Ben Forman, research director at MassINC. “Twenty years ago, you didn’t need access to information technology to access the best health services. Now you do.” The report’s authors hope to take advantage of an influx of public broadband funds, including $50 million set aside by the state Legislature late last year to promote digital equity and increase broadband access and an estimated $500 million-plus over several years destined for Massachusetts from last year’s $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure bill. Then there’s the new federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 a month for low-income households for broadband bills. More targeted outreach is needed to help people overcome trust issues or fears of hidden charges levied by the telecom providers, the report says. The report urges state officials to broaden the mission of the Massachusetts Broadband Institute beyond its initial charge of deploying rural broadband lines, to address digital inequities across the state and to craft a statewide digital equity plan that leverages private-sector expertise and coordinates regional efforts. The authors want the $50 million digital equity fund to provide planning grants to local community groups and to identify gaps in service from Internet service providers such as Comcast and Verizon. And they float the idea of a long-term funding model, such as a user service fee on Internet bills or a surcharge on device purchases. -See the full Boston Globe article.
Advocates Seek to Ease Hunger Among College Students More than a third of the state’s public college students are struggling with food insecurity, according to advocates who are prodding lawmakers to approve a plan to help ease hunger at community colleges and universities. A pair of proposals pending before the House and Senate would provide grants to public colleges and other institutions of higher education that serve a significant proportion of low-income students to help them alleviate hunger on campus. Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, a primary sponsor of the Senate version of the bill said the statewide initiative would be modeled on a program at North Shore Community College that offers meal vouchers and a mobile food market. If approved, it could immediately tap into $2.7 million earmarked for a pilot college anti-hunger program included in a $4 billion spending bill approved in December. The money comes from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan Act money and surplus revenue that piled up amid better-than-expected tax collections. Another supporter, Rep. Andy Vargas, D-Haverhill, said food insecurity is a critical issue for many public college and university students from his district. He said the rising cost of food and other necessities amid record-high inflation is putting the squeeze on students’ budgets. The proposed changes are being driven by the Hunger Free Campus Coalition, which includes Salem State University, North Shore Community College and the University of Massachusetts, as well as advocacy groups such as Project Bread, the Greater Boston Food Bank and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. More than 37% of the state’s 250,000 students who attend public colleges and universities are struggling with food insecurity, according to the group. Black and Latino students are disproportionately affected. - See the full Eagle Tribune article.
Public Charge Rule Coming This Summer and New USCIS Web Resources On June 3 a USCIS alert announced that DHS plans to publish a new final public charge rule in July or August 2022. This is terrific news! We are very hopeful that a new final rule will put an end to Texas, Arizona and likeminded states’ attempts to intervene in litigation that blocked the 2019/Trump rule; and ask a court to allow the 2019/Trump rule to go back into effect. The alert also allayed fears by reenforcing that few non-citizens are BOTH subject to the public charge ground of inadmissibility AND eligible for the public benefits considered under the 1999 Interim Field Guidance. USCIS also updated its public charge resources webpage with a helpful Q&A section designed to clarify current policy and reduce the chilling effect. The website provides a short list of essential clarifications such as:
It also sorts questions into a number of helpful categories:
What should you do with this new information? You can share sections of the Q&A with:
Visit us at https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/ - From NEW: Public Charge Final Rule Expected Summer 2022!, Adriana Cadena, Protecting Immigrant Families, NILC, June 8, 2022.
Opinion: “Copay Accumulator Adjusters”- This Latest Insurer Surprise is Galling It’s simple; we pay our health insurance premiums and expect that in return our coverage will serve our best interests. And yet, year after year it seems, we find new surprises that end up harming patients and boosting insurer profits higher than what they already are. But the latest insurer “surprise” is particularly galling. Even to those of us who have seen it all. As co-leaders of a coalition of over 40 patient advocacy groups, we are strongly urging lawmakers to pass H1053 to stop insurers from literally double dipping, while leaving those they cover stuck with high out-of-pocket costs. For thousands of Massachusetts residents, those out-of-pocket costs are the bane of their existence. Many rely on copay assistance programs from third parties, drug manufacturers, advocacy groups etc. to help offset what they have to pay out of pocket. It works like any gift card program. You get a gift card, you buy something, and the amount of the gift card is applied to your purchase leaving you to pay for the remainder. It used to be that the copay assistance plus what the patient had to pay were both counted toward satisfying a patient’s financial obligation. But if you’re like many of the people we serve, you’ve seen a change. Instead, more and more insurers are now implementing something called copay accumulator adjusters. They take the assistance money from the third party but only apply the remainder—what the patient pays– towards meeting the patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The patient is left holding the bag, having to still meet his/her full out-of-pocket-maximum. The only entity benefiting from the copay assistance is the insurer. This puts a patient’s health at risk because he or she may decide to forgo the treatment or try to stretch it out to last longer, both of which will inevitably require more trips to the doctor’s office or even the emergency room. We’ve heard from patients whose conditions have progressed because of this. The accumulator adjuster programs also fly in the face of what insurance is supposed to do—namely help the patient cover medical expenses. Insurers should not be able to get paid twice for providing one service. This is happening all around the country, which is why more and more states are passing laws to prohibit it. In fact, more than a dozen other states (including Connecticut and Maine) plus Puerto Rico have passed laws prohibiting insurers from doing this. New York’s lawmakers did the same this year and that bill now awaits the governor’s signature. Copay assistance, which is meant to help patients, should do just that. It should not go to insurers who are doubling down on their profits. It’s our hope that Massachusetts lawmakers will see this health insurance practice for what it really is and take the necessary action to make sure their constituents are protected. Richard Pezzillo is the executive director of the Dedham-based New England Hemophilia Association, which assists and advocates for patients with a bleeding disorder across New England. Bill Murphy is the director of advocacy and public policy for Epilepsy Foundation New England, which is based in Lowell. - From CommonWealth Magazine
Children of Color and Low-Income Kids Still Receive Unsafe Mercury-Based Dental Fillings It has been more than a year since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked dentists to stop using amalgam—the familiar silver-colored material used to fill cavities—in children and other “high risk” groups. That’s because amalgam contains 50 percent mercury, a well-known neurotoxicant. The risks are alarming. We know that mercury from amalgam is absorbed into the body, where it can be detected in blood and tissue samples. The more amalgam fillings a person has, the higher their blood levels of mercury. Mercury exposure is associated with irreversible cognitive and neurological impairment, as well as other long-term health impacts. Children, whose brains are still developing, are at greatest risk from exposure to neurotoxicants such as mercury. While the science on amalgam and health continues to evolve, the data are strong enough to prompt a global shift away from mercury-based fillings. The World Health Organization recently declared mercury a major public health and environmental concern, recommending composite and glass ionomer fillings as healthful, cost-effective alternatives to amalgam. The European Union bans amalgam in children younger than age 15, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Many other countries have banned or limited amalgam use. And the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which the US signed in 2013, has called for a phase-out of amalgam use in those same vulnerable groups. The data on the extent of amalgam use in the US are sparse and out of date, but in our experience as dental and medical professionals, we’ve seen that Black, Latino, Native American, and low-income kids are much more likely to get mercury-based amalgam fillings than their more affluent non-Hispanic White counterparts. Indeed, low-income kids of color are more likely to get dental care through Medicaid and other governmental programs that still use amalgam than from any other insurance source. In three states (Georgia, Kentucky, and West Virginia) Medicaid will only pay for amalgam, and not the slightly more expensive alternatives. The Indian Health Service is gradually phasing out amalgam but continues to use mercury-based fillings, even in small children. Also, many low-income kids get their fillings at dental school clinics, where amalgam is still part of the curriculum and clinical requirements. In the US, the decision to use amalgam is left to the discretion of dental providers, allowing racial bias to put a thumb on the scale. We know that bias can play a role in whether Black patients receive pain medication and also contributes to racial disparities in health outcomes. Perhaps, some dentists weigh health risks differently when they are deciding how to fill the cavities of Black and Brown children. No matter the reason that dentists still use them, mercury-based fillings add to an already heavy burden of toxics for children of color from all income levels. Black children, who are more likely to live near toxic waste sites, coal-fired power plants, and other polluting facilities, already have higher levels of mercury in their bodies than non-Hispanic White kids. They don’t need more mercury from amalgam. Amalgam fillings also poison the environment, which affects us all. Dental amalgam accounts for much of the mercury in use in the United States. Mercury from amalgam leaches into the environment through cremation and burial, dental clinic water and air emissions, and human waste. Our health and that of the environment are intimately connected. The ethical, practical solution to this problem is to ban amalgam use in the US, particularly in children and other at-risk groups. While the full scope of the problem is unclear without better data, we know that many government programs, including Medicaid and the Indian Health Service, continue to place mercury fillings in children’s mouths—in defiance of the FDA’s warnings. And we know that safer alternatives, such as composite and glass ionomer, are available at a reasonable cost. It is time for the US Secretary of Health, Xavier Becerra, to halt the use of amalgam in dental care provided or subsidized for by the federal government. As longtime champions of environmental health and social justice, we envision a world where all people have equal access to health and to the health care they need to thrive. As long as Black, Latino, Native American, and low-income children receive amalgam fillings while their affluent non-Hispanic White counterparts get the safer alternative, that vision remains elusive. - See the full Health Affairs opinion piece.
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