Last year, State Rep. Steven Walsh, D-Lynn, was tasked by House Speaker Robert DeLeo with the monumental assignment of House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, to restructure the health care system in Massachusetts. The proposal that emerged from that committee last week, Walsh said, is the culmination of 14 months of work, over 800 public and personal meetings by committee members, five public hearings around the commonwealth, 54 hospital visits by committee members and roughly 10 visits to community health centers.Walsh led in crafting the complex bill that seeks to shift health-care delivery in Massachusetts from the current fee-for-service model, in which providers benefit based on how sick people are, to a so-called accountable-care model in which providers are paid to keep people well.It would be an understatement to say that Walsh has been a busy man. Add in the personal challenge – and irony given his role on Beacon Hill – of tending to an infant son, one of boy and girl twins, born with a heart defect during that time, and his accomplishment is astounding. While leading the committee, Walsh said he spent 91 consecutive nights sleeping at Children’s Hospital in Boston.Walsh and his wife, Annie, are also parents of an older son, Coleman. He said twins Maeve and Myles recently turned 1, and happily added that Myles, who remains on oxygen, is now at home and his prognosis is good.”We’re blessed. He’s going to be fine,” Walsh told The Item on Tuesday, adding the experience “made me a better person and put things in perspective.”Walsh, who is in his 10th year as representative of the 11th Essex District, said he’s confident a final health care bill after revisions in each chamber – the Senate’s version is due for release today – will be ready in July. The status quo, he said, is not sustainable.”(Health care) is growing at 6.7 to 8 percent every year,” Walsh said, noting health care accounts for 45 percent of the state budget and businesses can no longer absorb the costs.The committee’s bill, Walsh said, would save families about $2,000 a year in premiums, save small businesses (10 or fewer employees) an average of $15,000 annually, and save businesses of 50 or more about $75,000 annually. He said the bill also focuses on cost transparency and that there are aspects of the proposal that will please everyone and others that will cause concern.”It’s a big industry that has been slow to move (with reform),” Walsh said. “When you’re trying to squeeze $10 billion to $20 billion a year out of a $66 billion industry, somebody is not going to be as comfortable next year as they are this year.”At the same time, he said, the goal is to make sure quality and access to care is maintained.”In community hospitals nothing is going to change,” he said. “If in the middle of the night a child is sick, health care will be available.”Walsh, a Lynn native and graduate of St. John’s Prep who holds degrees from Wesleyan University and New England School of Law, and is often touted as a possible mayoral candidate in Lynn next year, said he’s not sure what his future holds. He said he is grateful today to Speaker DeLeo for placing trust in him, for the opportunity to learn about the intricacies of the health care industry and to work on legislation that is “the first-of-its-kind” in the nation.DeLeo on Tuesday had words of praise for Walsh during a telephone interview with The Item.”This health care containment bill is probably one of the most complicated, controversial and difficult issues of our time, and not only for Massachusetts, but the rest of the country is waiting to see what we do ? Knowing his personal situation with a sick baby, to see what (Walsh) did on this was unbelievably impressive. Here’s a guy who was staying at the hospital every night, and he mentioned to me once, ?I appreciate you sticking with me on this. I’m going to get this done.’ I said, ?Steve, you’re my guy, whatever you have to do, don’t worry a
Itemlive
North Shore news powered by The Daily Item
