From Crisis to Stability: The Path to a More Affordable, Accessible, and Equitable Health Care System
The 2024 Health Care Cost Trends Hearing will take place on Thursday, November 14 at Suffolk University Law School (120 Tremont Street, Boston). Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM. Registration is required to attend in-person as seating is limited. The hearing will be livestreamed on the HPC’s website.
The HPC is pleased to once again welcome Governor Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell to kick off the day’s proceedings.
This year’s hearing will focus on the considerable harm caused by the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care and other recent market disruptions, with an emphasis on moving towards building a health care system that is more affordable, accessible, and equitable for all residents of Massachusetts.
The hearing will feature four panels of witnesses with questions posed by the HPC’s Board of Commissioners. These health care leaders span the Massachusetts health care system, from hospital systems, community health centers, health plans, and labor to the new operators of the former Steward Health Care hospitals and physician network.
The HPC’s recently published set of 2024 Policy Recommendations focus on actionable next steps to better protect the health care system, workforce, and patients from predatory actors, strengthen market oversight and transparency (including oversight of transactions involving private equity), and ensure greater market stability.
Opening Remarks from Massachusetts Leaders
The Honorable Maura Healey, Governor ![]() | The Honorable Andrea Campbell, Attorney General ![]() |
PANEL 1: What Comes Next? The Future of the Former Steward Health Care Facilities and Physician Network
- Dr. Abha Agrawal, President and CEO, Lawrence General Hospital
- Dr. Alastair Bell, President and CEO, Boston Medical Center Health System
- John Fernandez, President and CEO, Brown University Health
- Benson Sloan, CEO and Founder, Revere Medical
PANEL 2: Reimagining Community Care: Voices of Impacted Providers, Workers, and Communities on Recent Disruptions and the Imperative to Put Patients First
- Dr. Guy Fish, CEO, Codman Square Health Center
- Susan Joss, CEO, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
- Caridad Medina, Vice President, Steward Health Team, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
- Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director, Boston Public Health Commission
- Julie Pinkham, Executive Director, Massachusetts Nurses Association
PANEL 3: From Crisis to Stability: Perspectives of Industry Leaders on the Threats and Opportunities Facing the Commonwealth’s Health Care System
- Eileen Auen, Executive Chair of the Board of Directors, Point32Health
- Dr. Eric Dickson, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health
- Sarah Iselin, President and CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
- Dr. Anne Klibanski, President and CEO, Mass General Brigham
PANEL 4: The Cost of Inaction: Building Consensus on Policy Solutions to Achieve Health Care Affordability, Accessibility, and Equity for All
- Michael Curry, President and CEO, Massachusetts League of CHCs; Co-Founder, Health Equity Compact
- Lora Pellegrini, President and CEO, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans
- Amy Rosenthal, Executive Director, Health Care For All
- Steve Walsh, President and CEO, Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association
Public Testimony Opportunity
Time-permitting, the HPC will accept in-person testimony from members of the public beginning at approximately 3:00 PM. Pre-sign up is strongly encouraged and those wishing to provide testimony during the hearing may do so by emailing [email protected]. Additional details, including instructions to provide written testimony, can be found on the HPC’s website. The deadline for written testimony is November 15, 2024.