BREAKING: Agreement Between 1199SEIU and Partners Healthcare

May 26, 2016

This week, on Tuesday, May 25th, we joined Partners HealthCare in announcing a momentous strategic alliance that formalizes a joint commitment to working together in pursuit of our common goals, including promoting consumer access to quality healthcare services.

As part of our strategic alliance, we issued a joint statement with Partners supporting the legislative agreement developed by Governor Charlie Baker, Senate President Stanley Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo to tackle the issue of inequity in healthcare reimbursement in Massachusetts.

The legislative agreement reforms the Special Commission to Review Variation in Prices among Providers, adjusts MassHealth/Medicaid rates and provides financial relief for community hospitals. This agreement is a first substantive step toward leveling the Massachusetts healthcare playing field.

Most important, it reflects the framework we have proposed all along - clear timelines and deliverables for comprehensive policy solutions to be developed by a broad range of stakeholders and immediate relief for community hospitals.

In addition, through our strategic alliance with Partners, we will continue to work with them to facilitate the delivery of high quality healthcare and support fair pay, good jobs and a free and fair union elections process for healthcare workers throughout the Partners system.

Thanks to the tireless advocacy of 1199ers across Massachusetts, we elevated the long-overdue discussion about pricing disparities to the forefront of statewide public policy debate. We have more work to do with leadership and stakeholders, and we will keep pushing to move the conversation forward. We will update this post as more news and information comes in.

This is the moment for our movement. We are 1199SEIU.

Continuing Coverage on the Groundbreaking Announcement:


Deal reached to avert ballot question on hospitals
May 26, 2016
Boston Globe

State reaches agreement with union to avert hospital ballot question
May 25, 2016
Boston Business Journal

Massachusetts health care pricing compromise reached to avert ballot question
May 25, 2016
Springfield Republican/masslive.com

Baker, legislative leaders unveil healthcare pricing plan
May 25, 2016
San Francisco Chronicle/Associated Press

Deal takes shape to avert ballot fight on health care pricing
May 25, 2016
State House News Service (Matt Murphy)