We need to continue working towards universal and affordable healthcare in Massachusetts. While much has been done to reduce the number of uninsured, there is more that needs to be done. I am committed to working with everyone involved to get as much relief for consumers and healthcare providers as we can. I remain resolved to move us forward towards the long-term solution of genuine reform.

I believe together we can genuinely empowers consumers, by creating universal and affordable healthcare because it allows each of us uninterrupted access to the doctors we trust. We will be able to move from job to job, start a business; start a family, continue our education and change our residence, knowing that our healthcare will follow us.

It will allow our seniors the right to live in their home with dignity during their twilight years and receive the care they deserve and need without having to leave home.

It is also about insuring every patient has a nurse at the bedside when they are hospitalized and that our hospitals have safe staffing ratios. We also must recognize that nurses are sentinels of healthcare and they are being stretched to thin. Increasing patient loads are displacing RN’s from the bedside and we need to do something about if we are going to be safe when we are hospitalized. Safe RN staffing Ratios need to be part of the healthcare reform in Massachusetts and I will work toward these reforms. In summary,

• Support Safe RN Staffing Ratios
  
• Support No Lift legislation which would set acceptable standards for the lifting and handling of patients to curb the high rate of injuries incurred by RNs
  
• Support increasing funding for homecare to allow our seniors to stay in their home with dignity
  
• Support legislation that creates the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund (CICRF) to help families address medical costs associated with serious illness.
  
• Supports mandatory hearing tests for newborns, which will save the state millions of dollars in health care and special education costs by immediately identifying hearing problems.
  
• Support Mental Health Parity legislation, which requires private insurers to cover health services for mental illnesses in the same manner as a physical ailment.
  
• Support increasing pediatric treatment beds for Addiction and other Mental health issue for our children in need.
  
• Support increasing access to complete health care by restoring dental and eyeglass benefits to all Mass Health recipients.
  
• Will advocate increasing funding for School Based Health Program. School based health program place nurses in schools across the state, train staff and act as advocates for our children.
  
• Will advocate providing opportunities for seniors to enroll in the Prescription Advantage wrap-around program, which fills in the gap in the federal prescription drug coverage so seniors aren't paying more out-of-pocket expenses.
  
• Will fight and advocate on behalf of our Senior Citizens to maintain Prescription Advantage, a program which provides drug coverage to impoverished and middle class seniors