April 2003 Inside… Single-payer health care: Why are we cutting Medicaid? ....2 President’s column: Where we are headed.................3 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS NURSES ASSOCIATION ■ www.massnurses.org ■ VOL. 74 NO. 3 MNA joins new coalition to save Hundreds gather to celebrate MNA’s 100th anniversary Worcester State Hospital.............3 More than 400 nurses from all corners of current crisis in nursing and patient safety MNA on Beacon Hill: the commonwealth took part in an historic in the state. Upon entering the hall, nurses Safe staffi ng & quality care..........4 three-part celebration on February 26 to mark were each given a single white carnation. The the 100th Anniversary of the Massachusetts carnations symbolized nurses’ commitment MNA on Beacon Hill ....................4 Nurses Association. The MNA, the largest to providing quality patient care, as well as and oldest association for registered nurses those nurses who have left the profession Capitol Hill Watch: in Massachusetts, used the occasion to honor because of untenable staffi ng conditions. Bush’s Medicare proposal ..........4 its past, celebrate its many accomplishments Higgins introduced the ceremony by and to point to present and future challenges saying, “Nurses are here to tell you that faced by the profession. while we are proud of our history and the Political Pulse: The event was kicked off with a special profession we have created to care for the Sen. Jarrett Barrios......................5 ceremony and demonstration in the Gard- public, you need to know that we are fi nd- registration for nurses. It was here that the ner Auditorium at the Massachusetts State ing it more diffi cult to meet the legal, ethical Safe staffi ng update ....................6 nurses made their case for the creation of an House. In her introductory remarks, MNA and educational standards that defi ne qual- amendment to improve the Nurse Practice President Karen Higgins underscored the ity nursing care. The promise of quality care MNA bill statements take Act which governs nursing practice, and it reasoning behind the decision to begin the made to the public through the establishment on a new look ..............................7 was here in 1964 that nurses testifi ed and festivities in that location. of our profession and the laws that govern it won support for a law granting nurses the “The birth, growth and continued devel- cannot be kept given the current conditions Photos from MNA’s 100-year right to pursue collective bargaining in the opment of registered nurses and of all created by the health care industry.” Commonwealth.” anniversary celebration ............8-9 professional nursing is directly tied to and Higgins then called for the nurses to exit Underscoring the partnership between leg- dependent on laws and regulations that the hall, and as they did, they took their car- islators and nurses, Rep. Peter J. Koutoujian, A century of caring ....................10 have been sponsored by, lobbied for and nations and placed them in a basket held by House Chair of the Joint Committee on Health championed by the Massachusetts Nurses Rep. Christine Canavan, RN, herself an MNA Care, read the text of a legislative resolution Benefi ts corner ..........................11 Association in concert with our elected lead- member and the lead sponsor for legislation passed in both houses of the legislature to ers in this building,” Higgins explained. “In fi led by MNA to regulate RN-to-patient ratios recognize the accomplishments and contribu- Health & safety briefs ................12 this hall, Gardner Auditorium, many impor- in Massachusetts hospitals. tions of the MNA to the Commonwealth of tant hearings on the issues confronting nurses “In placing these carnations in the hands Massachusetts. Another view: Debate smallpox over the last 100 years have been held. It was of the legislature, we are once again express- This was followed by a special “carnation vaccine on its merits..................12 here that testimony was given time and again laying” ceremony to call attention to the to convince legislators to create a board of See Anniversary, Page 8 So you think it’s safe at work? ...13 MNA reaffi rms stance MNA prepares battle to preserve services, protect workers Honor your peers.......................14 on smallpox vaccine Romney budget attacks state RNs MNA consent-to-serve form ......15 During its March meeting, the MNA’s Smallpox Vaccination Task Force revisited and health care professionals New staff members in MNA several of the issues outlined in its position communications department .....15 statement regarding the DPH’s smallpox On Feb. 26 Governor Mitt Romney fi led unit pre-event vaccination plan for health care his budget proposal for fi scal year 2004. The Elimination of the Civil Service system MNA nominations & election workers. According to Denise Garlick, RN proposal represents a wholesale attack on the Repeal of the Pacheco privatization law policies & procedures...........16-17 and the task force’s interim chairperson, state’s human services programs and the state State employee health insurance and MNA President Karen Higgins, RN, the employees who provide these services. • The governor’s proposal is to drasti- MNF golf tournament ................17 majority of positions outlined in the state- The governor’s proposals include: cally alter the current 85 percent/15 ment continue to be issues of the highest Closure and downsizing of mental health percent contribution structure. His Continuing Education ...........18-19 priority for the organization — including and mental retardation facilities proposal would have the state pay those related to patient safety, furloughing • Immediately planned for closures no less than 75 percent of the cheap- MNA member benefi ts ..............20 and education. include Worcester State Hospital est plan available. If someone chose a “For the sake of patient safety, our big- and Fernald Developmental Center more costly plan, the state would pay gest area of concern continues to be that • Long-term plans for closure of all no more than the dollar amount that those who are vaccinated should be fur- DMR facilities equals its contribution to the cheapest loughed,” said Higgins. “Removing health Collective Bargaining plan. In addition, it appears that the care workers from the workplace while • Dismantling of the Chapter 150E, Governor’s proposal may eliminate For the latest they have a live virus and are in danger of the public sector collective bargain- the family plan option. developments exposing others is essential, particularly for ing labor law The MNA is engaged in an aggressive impacting nurses, those patients most susceptible to serious • Elimination of seniority campaign to preserve services and protect complications.” • Elimination of bumping rights workers rights and benefi ts. As part of this visit the Higgins also emphasized that nurses • Implementation of a comprehensive campaign the MNA is working with a coali- MNA Web site, should be compensated for their time and management-rights clause tion of unions to facilitate a series of regional www.massnurses.org hardship if the smallpox vaccine causes • With this proposal, the only meetings with legislators entitled, “The complications, and that MNA members issues left on the bargaining Romney Budget: Beyond the Headlines.” and the general public need to be further table would be wages and some The meetings are designed to educate the educated about the overall vaccination pro- benefi ts legislature about the magnitude of these • Elimination of ‘supervisory’ employ- proposals and what they mean to those we See Smallpox, Page 13 ees from the collective bargaining serve and represent. Page 2 Massachusetts Nurse April 2003 Nurses’ Guide to Single Payer Reform Why are we cutting Medicaid and wasting $16 billion of ‘health care’ dollars By Margaret O’Malley, R.N. Medicare really is. Medicare guarantees care care and long waiting lists. These problems simply unsustainable; 2) only a single payer Chair, MASS-CARE, the Massachusetts Cam- to over 40 million elders and disabled and exist in many systems, including our own. system can achieve universal coverage. paign for Single Payer Health Care keeps its administrative costs less than 5% But you never hear complaints of Medicare The time to do this is now. It won’t be easy Massachusetts can afford to guarantee of overall expenses. Even though it covers a care being rationed. with the infl uence of big money in politics health care to everyone in our state without population more likely to get sick, Medicare’s The single payer movement is growing but it is possible if we act together and insist spending more than we do today. The cov- annual increase in expenditures grows at a rapidly. In January, unions at General Elec- that government fulfi lls its fundamental role: erage would include prescriptions, choice rate less than the private insurance market, tric called a nation-wide strike to protest to protect our health and safety. of doctor and better care. How is that pos- which vigorously excludes anyone likely to higher health care costs for workers. In The next time an elected offi cial, or your sible? need care. Lynn, the local union held a rally, not only employer, or a health care CEO, or your A recent report commissioned by the Mas- Massachusetts legislators can create a for its members but for the community as a newspaper blames high health care costs, sachusetts Legislature found that nearly 40 state-based single payer system that provides whole, to learn how all kinds of people are or “lavish” benefi ts, as the reason for more cents of every dollar we spend for “health health care to all 6 million residents through suffering from our health care “system.” cuts in care, ask them to justify why we all care” goes to administrative overhead! That the passage of the Massachusetts Health Care The outcome of the event was a pledge must bear a $16 billion burden of subsidizing is appalling given how many of us have inad- Trust, Senate Bill 686.