Daily check up: New York Times points to Mass. public opinion on health care mandate as a model

Print | Comments () Posted by Chelsea Conaboy June 10, 2011 09:15 AM

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By Chelsea Conaboy, Globe Staff

A look at the morning's top health industry news.

What Massachusetts thinks: A New York Times editorial suggests that, for all the criticism of the federal mandate that most people must buy health insurance starting in 2014, public support nationally could follow the trajectory of that in Massachusetts and get stronger. It points to a recent poll that found most people in this state, 51 percent, support the state mandate. The poll, conducted by the Globe and the Harvard School of Public Health, found 63 percent of residents support state changes to health care overall.

Nonprofit board pay: A measure included in the Senate budget that would require nonprofits to get approval before paying board members was passed in response to outrage over compensation at nonprofits health insurers. But Globe reporter Todd Wallack writes that many of the largest nonprofits in Massachusetts also will be affected. Some pay their directors as much as $130,000, according to a review of tax filings.

Beware the bathroom: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday released a report on just how dangerous the bathroom can be. More than 234,000 nonfatal bathroom injuries were treated in emergency rooms in 2008. Jennifer LaRue Huget of the Washington Post blog The Checkup reports that injuires increased with age and were higher among women.

Set up for the battle of the bigs: Globe reporter Robert Weisman reported yesterday that an alliance between Lahey Clinic and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center could significantly change the medical landscape in the city. It would give Partners HealthCare, the state's dominant hospital and physician organization, a serious competitor. The two academic medical centers have said they are discussing a possible merger but the talks are in early stages.

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About white coat notes

White Coat Notes covers the latest from the health care industry, hospitals, doctors offices, labs, insurers, and the corridors of government. Chelsea Conaboy previously covered health care for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write her at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cconaboy.

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