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The hearing about private investments in health care focused primarily on the financial challenges facing Steward Health Care, one of the nation's largest private, for-profit hospital chains, and the uncertain fate of its nine Massachusetts facilities.
The ripples of financial difficulties at Steward have been felt by its employees, vendors, state officials and patients for years, but the state is now scrambling to prepare for what could become a tsunami if the for-profit company shutters some, or all, of its Massachusetts hospitals.
Most mental health advocacy groups oppose a bill that would allow judges to compel people to get outpatient mental health care. But supporters say it could help in some cases.
"We're taking a look to see exactly what it means and what it doesn't," said state Rep. Michael Day, a Democrat and House chair of the Legislature's Judiciary committee.
Telemedicine Here To Stay In Massachusetts, Proponents Say Margo Jarvis takes part in video teleconference at Cohen Veteran's Network on April 22, 2020, in Fayetteville, N.C. Since the pandemic began, the organization has pivoted their mental health services to telehealth at their 15 clinics across the U.S. Brynn Anderson/AP In a year with few victories to celebrate, advocates for expanded health care in Massachusetts are pointing to at least one win: More access to remote health care, or "telehealth." Since early in the pandemic, health insurers have been required to cover telehealth visits...