And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:26 (New Living Translation)

In my last blog post, I joined the voice of GBIO to that of Cardinal O’Malley and the Roman Catholic Church in asking the administration and legislative leadership – in a time of deep budget cuts – to take a deeper breath, dig deeper and find the means to provide health care coverage to over 28,000 legal, tax-paying immigrants. A couple of weeks ago this is exactly what happened. The administration and legislature, with generous support from Partners Health Care and courageous commitment from Celticare, provided coverage for not 28,000 but for almost 31,000 legal immigrants. On behalf of GBIO leaders and institutions as well as all who love justice in our Commonwealth, I congratulate those noted above for finding a way.

There are however, real limitations to the coverage that the Commonwealth has been able to provide. Most disturbing is the requirement that struggling consumers pay $50 co-pays on all brand name prescription drugs. Moreover, the challenges of next year’s fiscal reality coupled with these limitations force us to ask some difficult questions about the very soul of our Commonwealth.

What does it say about our Commonwealth that, in a severe financial crisis, we created a false choice between legal immigrants and legal citizens regarding health care benefits? Why was it optional to eliminate coverage for a group of people solely because the word “immigrant” is part of the description of their legal status? How did the birth place of a nation, founded by and from immigration, find the audacity to suggest such a thing? A serious crisis always brings to the surface what lies at the bottom of one’s soul. The fact that we so easily singled out legal immigrants in a severe financial crisis reveals that perhaps we still have some unsettling prejudice in our state’s soul. Or, at the very least, we have drunk the national proverbial Kool Aid –filled with concentrated political toxicity around “immigrants” by “immigrants.” (Every American citizen –- except for Native Americans — is an immigrant). May God help us in Massachusetts find a moral vaccine from this dangerous epidemic of the human soul.

As we look over the horizon to the future, what do we see? The reality of a severely deteriorated fiscal picture for 2010 means that once again our soul will be tested. Once again, we will have to answer the question posed by Jesus in the scripture noted above, “What will one give in exchange for one’s soul” (adapted from KJV)?

All indications foretell us that the financial crisis of the next fiscal year will transcend the one we just worked through. The health of our soul, the strength of our common values will sustain us if we do not forsake them in the days to come. Here is an early test. What will be the basic political question of 2010? Will it be: “What more should we cut?” Perhaps it will be: “Who should we cut out?” Will we cut out the legal immigrants, the disabled, the mentally ill, the addict, the hungry, the poor, the child in our public schools? What will we, the Commonwealth, give in exchange for our soul – while using the disastrous fiscal reality as an excuse? There is another way. Let us begin today, in this fiscal year, to ask the question: “How do we raise the money needed to protect the vulnerable in the 2010 budget?”

How do we raise the dollars needed to not make false choices between legal immigrants and legal citizens? How do we not surrender to the world as it is, but rise, and seize this opportunity to shape the world as it ought to be? Yes, this means finding the courage, the conviction, the soul strength to begin a reasonable discussion about raising taxes. Neither political fear nor dogmatic political ideology is a sufficient exchange for the soul of our Commonwealth. Our collective soul, the very essence of our Commonwealth, our sacred values is worth more than any political party.

Therefore, let us shape a package of tax increases that ask something from all of us, but more from those of us who have the most. Let all of us chip in, each one according to his or her capacity, in order to keep schools open, teachers teaching, police and fire personnel working. Let us all sacrifice, to insure that the hungry are fed, the mentally ill and disabled are cared for; and the sick are tended to without respect to whether you are a “legal immigrant” or a “legal citizen.” Today, I call on the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and the Senate President to protect the soul of our Commonwealth, just as they did by finding away to provide health care for more than 31,000 legal immigrants. I urge them to lead us into the future with soul intact and values shaping our vision. Begin the work now on a common sense, values–driven broad package of taxes in order that we not lose our soul for political expediency next year. For indeed, there is nothing worth more, than our soul!

Perhaps no other Scripture of sacred text better describes these perilous times in which our Commonwealth finds itself on this very day. His Eminence, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, eloquently describes this dangerous economic valley through which we are traversing in his July 24 blog: “The Governor and the Legislature in the commonwealth face excruciatingly difficult choices this week. Final decisions about the budget bring together the fact of an economy in deep recession, declining state revenues and multiple human needs among the citizens of the commonwealth.” The Cardinal continues, “A particular issue of concern to me is the possibility that funding for health coverage for 28,000 legal immigrants may be cut in whole or in part….The commonwealth has done a very commendable job of providing health care to the citizens of Massachusetts. It would be a tragic mistake to let these 28,000 members of our community lose access to the precious good of health care.”

“Yea, though [we] walk through the valley of the shadow of death. . .”

“A tragic mistake” the Cardinal says. I would, respectfully, like to expand on the Cardinal’s accurate assertion, “a tragic mistake.” I would go a step further and say a “catastrophic mistake.” With the bottom out of our economy, our state political leaders are faced with many horrific challenges. Tremendous cuts in every area – disabilities, mental health, elderly, public safety, HIV&AIDS, public education and the list goes on and on and on! Indeed, the implications of many of these cuts are captured by the word, “tragic.” But to cut 28,000 legal immigrants access to health care is beyond tragic – it is a catastrophic mistake. Here is why.

The first, and most obvious reason, is that 28,000 more people in the Commonwealth would be without health insurance. Since the dawn of health reform, across the state, a chorus of testimonies has gone up, reminding us all that access to health insurance means access to potentially life-saving preventive and follow-up care. In short, people may die, due to this decision.

Second, this segment of our community is among the most vulnerable, and the least resourced. Therefore, all these cuts and their corresponding tragedies disproportionally affect the immigrant community. This disproportional affect will only be compounded with the loss of access to quality health care.

“Yea, thou [we] walk through the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. . .”

Third, cutting 28,000 legal immigrants out of health insurance would be a catastrophic mistake precisely because it punishes a population that has done everything right in terms of being in this country legally. These are legal immigrants — taxpaying, law abiding residents on their way to becoming citizens of this great country. And for this we want to punish them? For those who counter, “No we are not punishing them for being immigrants,” I only remind you of the rationale offered by our governmental officials when asked, “why this particular cut.” The answer is that the federal government provides a match for all of the dollars that our Commonwealth spends on healthcare except for those spent on immigrants, including “legal immigrants.” In short, this population is losing its health care because of the status of “legal immigrants.” So this cut unlike the other tough cuts, is not simply driven by a scarcity of resources, but also by a prejudice, unjust and evil federal policy. If Massachusetts implements this particular cut, our Commonwealth is co-signing and ratifying this evil policy. Such an act will not only severely damage the Soul of our Commonwealth, but it will provide fuel for backward movement as a nation seeks to develop a sensible and just immigration policy. A catastrophic mistake!

“Yea, thou [we] walk through the shadow of death, we will fear no evil. . .”

Finally, Massachusetts is now a model for our nation. As our leaders in the nation’s capital struggle over the details of crafting national health care reform, do we really want to model for them a retreat from universal coverage? Especially when we know that such a retreat could lead to the death of national healthcare reform? NO! We should, and we must model for them the resolve to develop creative solutions for difficult problems even in the economic valley of the shadow of death.
So on behalf of GBIO, I join our voice to that of the Cardinal, as well as to those voices from people of all faiths and no faith; to those voices of people who love justice and honor mercy – to make two simple requests. Will the Governor, the Speaker of the House, the Senate President and their colleagues do the following: (1) Press forward to find a solution, even if it is a temporary solution, that preserves quality health care for these 28,000 legal, tax paying members of our Commonwealth. (2) Join with us in demanding that our Federal Government eliminate the prejudice, unjust, and evil policy that denies a federal match for dollars spent to insure legal immigrants. I am convinced that this can be done, for the God of the Universe is with us, God’s rod and staff comforts us. Surely we can make it through this valley of the shadow of death, with our souls and values intact.

Rev. Hurmon E. Hamilton, Jr
Senior Pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian Church USA
President of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

Jesus teaches us in the passage above that the quality of one’s character and faithfulness is measured by how one treats the “least of these.” I might add that the character of our Commonwealth is measured, not by how we treat the hungry, sick, imprisoned, stranger (i.e. immigrant), homeless, elderly – the “least of these” during times of budget surplus, but rather how we treat them during times of scarcity. Who is expendable? Who do we delete from the budget, without a whimper?

Surely this is the test that our State senate is facing at this very moment. A few days ago, this august body of dedicated individuals released a State budget that threatens disastrous consequences for the “least of these” throughout our Commonwealth. In a time when horrific teenage violence is taking the lives of teenagers in Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan at the rate of one or two a week, this budget cuts to “zero,” spending for violence prevention, intervention, or youth programming. At a time when our nation is on the edge of passing sweeping healthcare reform inspired by our State’s historic accomplishment, the Senate proposes to drop 28,000 legal immigrants from coverage and eliminate dental coverage for nearly 700,000 adults. Millions more are being eliminated from the budgets of community health centers and millions from programs to support our elderly – such as in- home health services. Even more egregious than these cuts is the fact that our noble legislatures, as of yet, proposed no enhanced revenue increases to offset these cuts. This point, the Senate’s willingness to mitigate devastating cuts by raising sensible taxes, is at the heart of the test that our Senate faces during this week as it debates the final budget. This will be the place where character is truly revealed.

I am blessed to be married to a very successful doctor. Our joint income is more than either of us could have imagined twenty years ago. And we pay more in taxes today than both of my parents joint earnings, during my childhood, multiplied by five years. Yet, I am sure that we are no different than thousands of citizens in our Commonwealth. We are prepared to share in the sacrifice needed to insure that the most vulnerable among us – during these difficult days, survive and thrive. If that means we have to pay a few more pennies when we go out to eat, to provide some help for the homeless and hungry, so be it! If that means that we have to pay a little more at the gas tank, to insure that 28, 000 legal immigrants can have healthcare; and the poor can still go to a dentist, than so be it. If that means that we have to pay a few cents more as we purchase high end goods like a home computer, business suits, or furniture to insure that the elderly can receive quality care in their homes – than so be it. If that means that we have to give more and spend less to insure that Cambridge Health Alliance, Boston Medical Center and Health Care centers throughout the Commonwealth can continue to provide exceptional care to the poor without exception, than so be it!

This is why, today at noon, clergy and lay leaders from across the Commonwealth will gather at the State house, to urge the Senate to rise up and demonstrate it’s true character –pass legislation that increases revenue and repairs these devastating cuts. Let it be said across the country, that in Massachusetts – in times of scarcity, we prioritize the poor, the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the immigrant, the elderly and our children. And we do what ever it takes, including raising sensible taxes, to insure them life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – why? Because it is our character!

Reverend Hurmon Hamilton
President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

Every Sunday morning I see the signs of the times, when I look out on to the faces of my congregation. Worry weighs upon their glorious faces and their eyes shout out a chorus of unanswered questions: Will I have a job tomorrow? How will I support my aging parents? How long can I pay the mortgage? Can I afford to go to college? Will we be able to pay our staff this month? The fear of what tomorrow might bring is robbing them of the joys of today. Amidst this seemingly endless song of worry is a life saving, beacon of hope: Massachusetts’ Chapter 58 Health Reform law! It has given a father the care he needs to recover from a stroke, a grandmother the emergency surgery that saved her life and a mother the prenatal care needed to protect her unborn child. For many, health reform has given them a safety net to survive in the midst of life’s storms.

The current times require that we not falter in interpreting the economic signs that surrounds us. These signs warn that the current financial climate, despite the $787 billion National Stimulus Plan signed into law today, will grow worst and more dangerous before the storm recedes. In the face of these signs, the Commonwealth must continue to craft responses that offer sound and just judgments. Such responses require that critical safety nets be strengthen to accommodate the many more people whose survival will depend upon them in the days to come.

This is the fiscal and moral context that surrounded last Thursday’s Connector board meeting. In this context, the Connector board presented for public comment two potential options for determining the Affordability Schedule for 2009. The first option calls for a 2% increase in premium contributions for all income categories. The second options calls for a 2% increase in premium contributions for people with income up to 300% federal poverty level (FPL) and 5% for people with income above 300% FPL ( individuals with income over 32,490/families with incomes over 54,930).

Premium increases are understandable, because as Secretary Kirwan noted on Thursday, as the State meanders through these difficult economic times they must “tighten their belts”. The state is not alone – as individuals and families, these unprecedented economic pressures are severely squeezing all of us. We are all facing the rapidly rising cost of food, transportation, housing and utilities as well as the loss of retirement funds, savings and property values; so, we are also being forced to tighten our belts. The first option demonstrates a correct analysis of our current fiscal times. This proposal displays judgment that is both sound and just, as it calls for moderate premium increases to be equally shared among consumers. But the second option is troubling and the logic used to support it – flawed.

The major argument for supporting this plan as laid out in the recommendations to the Connector Board by Kaitlyn Kenney, Manager of Policy and Research of the Commonwealth Connector, is that the premium increases for consumers with income above 300% FPL are necessary to mirror the average annual increase in premiums for Employer Sponsored Insurance. The unstated fear implied in this argument is that of cost shifting. That is to say, if the State provides significantly less expensive products than Employer based insurance, corporations may dump their insurance burdens onto the state. We should note here that this fear has been prevalent for the past four years. However, after close monitoring, there is no evidence of a cost shifting trend. Furthermore, Chapter 58 has built-in disincentives to deter such a trend.

Another argument is offered by Connector Board member, Jon Gruber. He asserts that these premium increases are necessary to reflect the increase in inflation and the cost of these plans to the state. At first glance, this seems to be a sound fiscal argument; however, it is important to remember that the Affordability Schedule is not just a suggestion. It is the standard that is used to require consumers to purchase health insurance; therefore, to stay true to the legislative intent of Chapter 58 – to require the purchase of health insurance by only the consumers who can afford to do so- the Affordability Schedule must, as near as possible, reflect the ability of consumers to pay the cost of health insurance in the context of their real budgets not based on the price of the product or market trends.

In this precarious economy, it is even more critical to be cautious and slow-footed –requiring families to take on the burden of a 5% increase in premiums is reckless because we risk too many people being denied the safety net of health reform. In short, this proposal does not meet the standard of caution that these economic times demand. Last year – consumers, at great sacrifice, led as they absorbed the impact of significantly increased premium costs – they have taken their share of the burden! Moreover, at a time when the entire nation is focused on trying to provide relief for a Middle Class – critical to a strong economic recovery – let us not implement public policy that goes in the opposite direction of the national wisdom. This year, let’s cut the middle class some badly needed slack, while permitting consumers to wait out the storm with the security that affordable health care brings by limiting premium increases to 2% for everyone.

And as we respond to the signs of the time, with sound judgment and resounding justice, let us be assured – State, individuals, and families – that the God of the universe will see us through the difficult days ahead.

Reverend Hurmon Hamilton
President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

At approximately 11:00 p.m. November 4, 2008, a new hour commenced in America, as this country elected its first African-American President. On this past Sunday, in a Jubilant Service, I preached from Revelations 5:8, “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

The prayers referred to in this text were those of the martyrs, which remained before the Lord. In that spirit, I thought of the millions of African-Americans, and the many others on our behalf, who died over the centuries with unanswered prayers for justice, equality and vindication. So on behalf of all those who now live beyond all time and space, I thank all of you who worked to prepare America and who voted on behalf of America’s future and answered the prayers that lingered in Golden Bowls.

There is another reason why this is a magnificent hour for our nation and for our Commonwealth. The new President-Elect is committed to transforming the Massachusetts’ Health care experiment into answered prayers for 45 million Americans who this very moment are uninsured. His plan seeks to lower premiums for Americans currently satisfied with their existing insurance; provide access to congressional health insurance for individuals and families who are now uninsured and provide government subsidized support for those who can’t afford full premium payments. Mr. Obama’s plan calls on employers, who do not offer affordable, credible insurance to help the rest of us to pick up the tab; and carries an individual mandate for children, while emphasizing numerous cost saving practices. Most of this plan is currently being pioneered here in our Commonwealth. What we created here has provided a blueprint for a large portion of our newly elected President’s plan. As a result, we can rest assured that the lessons learned here in Massachusetts going forward, will have a real chance of being translated into national public policy that may save millions of lives and billions of dollars. Therefore, in this magnificent hour, beyond the celebration of history, let each of us who have worked to secure the healthcare gains we are now enjoying, pledge ourselves anew to completing the mission of credible, affordable health care for all. Let us pledge ourselves not only to the mission, but to the uncommon partnership that has brought us thus far along the way. There remain tough issues to be worked through, difficult compromises to be made, and challenging choices to be implemented. Our current economic crisis only adds to the complexity of the present moment. But we can and we must succeed. Unborn generations await our triumph and the national journey toward the day when everyone who lives beneath the Stars and Stripes will have access to quality, affordable health care is tied to our success.

There is one other characteristic that makes this moment a magnificent hour here in our Commonwealth. The experiment of our uncommon partnership! We have managed to build real relationships of respect and trust across historical boundaries. Progressives, liberals and conservatives; corporate leaders and consumer advocates; government officials and religious prelates – have found the will and interest to work from within our differences while reaching beyond our differences. While Washington and its new administration in waiting, dreams of such a reality; here in Massachusetts that reality is already in formation. Just as our gains of healthcare reform must be protected and perfected, so too must the strength of this uncommon partnership be protected and perfected. Both are grand experiments inextricably bound together. If we attain adequate Health Care Reform and sustain an uncommon partnership that can also be translated on a national level; we will have not only inspired innovative and helpful public policy, but we will have become better human beings.

What a magnificent hour? With God’s help, let us seize it!

The Reverend Hurmon Hamilton
President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

When Massachusetts legislators passed our landmark health reform legislation in the spring of 2006, they left unresolved two critical questions, open to interpretation through regulation. One, what constitutes affordable and credible coverage for individuals for the purposes of deciding who is subject to the individual mandate? Two, what constitutes a fair and reasonable contribution for employers for the purposes of deciding which employers are subject to the $295 employer assessment? In the first case, the decision was left to the 11 member board of the Connector Authority, chaired by the Secretary of Administration and Finance. In the second case, the decision was left to the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, under Commissioner Sarah Iselin and Secretary JudyAnn Bigby. For both critical decisions, it has fallen to the Patrick administration to sort out what amount is fair, reasonable, and affordable for both individuals and employers to contribute towards health care costs. This is no easy calculus.

The debate over what constitutes affordable and credible coverage has been robust and protracted. And because the Affordability Schedule has been tied to the premium schedule for Commonwealth Care, this debate promises to be renewed on an annual basis. As a state, we are going to need to struggle with the reality that while premiums increase relentlessly every year, people’s ability to afford these premiums does not necessarily keep pace. The most recent increases in premiums for Commonwealth Care recipients – a minimum of 10% — was perhaps necessary for the fiscal solvency of the program, but requiring individuals to pay an ever increasing percentage of their limited incomes on health insurance in untenable in the long run. We cannot balance Commonwealth Care’s books on the backs of low and moderate income people; it is that simple.

Employers, particularly those who do not insure their workers, need to do their fair share if health reform is going to survive over the long haul. The Romney administration put out the first set of regulations governing which employers would be subject to the $295 employer assessment. Romney’s definition of “fair and reasonable” said that the employer must cover 25% of their employees or offer a contribution of at least 33% of employees’ premiums in order to avoid paying the $295 penalty. The Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, along with many others, petitioned the Patrick administration to change this standard to 50% and 50%; however, Governor Patrick preferred to wait and assess how well the Romney standard worked in year one of health reform.

A year’s worth of experience, however, suggests that the Romney standard raises next to no money – approximately $7 million. A year’s worth of experience also reveals a $130 million deficit in Commonwealth Care’s budget. Surely the non-insuring employer community should contribute at least as much to the Commonwealth Care budget as their employees are contributing through premium contributions. After all, employers whose workers are on Comm. Care are getting a real benefit by having the state subsidize their workers’ health care.

Based on this clear and compelling data, the Patrick administration has now promulgated draft regulations which adjust the definition of “fair and reasonable” to include both the requirement for employers to cover 25% of their employees and offer a contribution of at least 33% of employee’s premiums in order to avoid the $295 penalty. This change is short of the 50% and 50% change GBIO has advocated. However, the Patrick administration estimates this change will raise an additional $33 million for health reform, and we respect the administration’s intent to minimize any negative impact on businesses at the same time trying to fully fund health reform.

In the text above, everyone was amazed when Jesus settled a dispute by simply suggesting, “Render unto Caesar (civil government) the things that are Caesar’s…” I hope that the business community will not be sidetracked by the amazement that their turn has come to give the government a reasonable contribution to underwrite employer’s fair share of historic healthcare reform in our Commonwealth.

The Reverend Hurmon Hamilton
President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

On the evening of May 27, 2008, 1700 leaders gathered at Boston University to celebrate GBIO’s tenth year anniversary. On the stage that night was Governor Deval Patrick, Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, Mayor Thomas Menino, and Mr. Jack Connors – Board Chairman for Partners Health Care. In the audience were scores of city counselors, State administration officials, and key leaders from health care, business and insurance industries. As President, I had the honor and duty of laying out a vision for the next decade that would offer a framework for meeting the public policy challenges that lay ahead, together.

In my challenge to the gathered leaders and allies, I argued that this framework is found both within the words of sacred text (noted above) and in the word we so often throw around, “Commonwealth.” Simply put, the vision we are called to embrace going forward is “shared power”, “shared responsibility” and “shared sacrifice!” Those of us who share the power to make public policy must also lead in the sharing of responsibilities and sacrifices required to sustain public policy. Nowhere is this fact more evident then in this current phase of Massachusetts’ landmark healthcare reform.
See here and here for Parts 1 and 2 of my challenge to the leaders of Massachusetts and our allies.

Yesterday’s lead Globe editorial states the challenge in clear terms, “The Good news is that enrollment in the state’s new subsidized health insurance program has greatly exceeded projections. The bad news is that this has raised the first-year cost of Commonwealth Care from an expected $472 million to $630 million. To fill the gap, the Patrick administration has devised a plan that spreads the pain relatively equally among health reform’s major stakeholders, from providers to employers to insurers and the state itself. The most important stakeholders – the individuals and families who have signed up for the state’s pioneering effort at universal coverage – have already done their bit.”

More specifically, the proposal put forth by the Governor includes collecting an additional $33 million from employers by tightening the “Fair Share” test. Health care companies are to develop a one-time $33 million assessment on excess insurer funds held in reserve. Health care providers will give a one-time, $28 million increase in the health Safety Net Trust Fund. For its own part the state will authorize a one-time transfer of up to $35 million in surplus funds currently in the Medical Security Trust Fund

Click here for the governor’s supplemental bill.

I would first like to take a moment to commend Governor Patrick. In his response to my remarks on May 27th, the Governor pledged before 1700 leaders not to leave consumers, who this past April accepted a 10 percent increase in Premiums and additional increases in co-pays, holding the bag for the cost of succeeding in providing quality affordable healthcare to the uninsured. He pledged that the State would do its part to help set the table for not just shared power (exercised in the creation of this reform), but for shared responsibility and sacrifice needed to sustain this historic effort. Late Sunday evening, the Governor filed his supplemental and kept his word. See here for Governor Patrick’s May 27th remarks.

When Speaker DiMasi responded to my remarks on May 27th, he reminded the 1700 leaders of a promise he made to me two years ago, to stand with GBIO and the uninsured against powerful interests and to work to achieve real health care reform. See here for Speaker DiMasi’s speech. Speaker DiMasi kept his word to us, and bears a lion’s share of the credit for achieving what we have today. I have every confidence that the Speaker will support this current effort of calling all major stakeholders to act by assuming their fair share of responsibility and sacrifice in this critical moment. We strongly urge Senate President Murray to hear the voice of the people and to continue to work towards reform by following the example of the Governor and those standing with him.

And to those stakeholders and allies within the business, insurer and provider communities, we say it is now time for you to act! The collective contribution of consumers through increased premiums and co-payments is roughly 30 million dollars. These are families with limited resources struggling under enormous economic burden in a deepening recession. Surely if these families are assuming their fair share of responsibility and sacrifice – you can also. And specifically to the business community who have verbalized some opposition to coming to the table of shared responsibility and sacrifice, the Governor’s proposal simply calls you to act by keeping your “word.” The Fair and Reasonable agreement was designed to generate 103 million dollars in the first three years. To date, because of loopholes created by the previous administration this agreement has only produced 15 million dollars. Surely this is anything but fair.

Governor Patrick has led the way on this new effort to improve short term funding for our landmark health care system. But the work is not over, and I am hopeful that all our leaders will see the need to approve this bill and work towards “shared responsibility” and “shared sacrifice!” The call has gone forth, the commonwealth and powers of eternity are waiting, now is the time to act!

The Reverend Hurmon Hamilton
President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

These key leaders will be joined by a wide array of members from both State Legislative Houses, City Counselors, Corporate, Philanthropic, Healthcare, and Insurance industry leaders. Surrounding these will be the largest gathering of Christians, Jews and Muslims in the Commonwealth since 9/11. This seminal event will also commemorate the organization’s 10th year anniversary, and will focus on two commitments from elected officials, as well as our Corporate and Health Care allies. First, GBIO wants a commitment to sustained long term financing for health care reform. As we all know, the Massachusetts initiative was born out of an unprecedented partnership and has become an unprecedented success: 340,000 previously uninsured residents now have health insurance in the private market. However, because most of these families are the working poor, the required state subsidies could be in excess of $200 million more than the administration originally budgeted. Some of these costs will be paid for by consumers through higher premiums and co-pays that have already been approved. GBIO will call on Governor Patrick and Speaker DiMasi, legislators, hospitals, insurers, and those employers who do not currently provide adequate health care insurance to their employees, to join with us in ensuring that everybody digs deeper and sacrifices greater to cover additional costs. Special emphasis will be placed on those Employers, Insurers and Hospitals who despite great capacities have yet to contribute.

Second, GBIO will seek commitments from the elected leaders to continue their partnership with us to improve the quality of life in Greater Boston, specifically: (1) develop strategies with GBIO to reduce youth violence and (2) commit the resources necessary to bringing the state’s eldercare web and phone information and referral systems into the 21st century.

Additionally, GBIO along with our allies will point to the possibilities of the future by celebrating some of our most dramatic past gains. These gains will be dramatized as hundreds are introduced who have signed up for Commonwealth Care insurance, graduated from the Citizens Bank/GBIO “Moving from Debt to Assets” initiative, and acquired new homes through the State’s Affordability Trust fund.

The event will be chaired by Rev. Ray Hammond, Pastor of Bethel AME Church; Mr. Bilal Kaleem, Executive Director of the Muslim-American Association; and Rabbi Stephanie Kolin from Temple Israel, Boston. As we gather to reason together in this unprecedented Commonwealth event, the central challenge will be that all parties represented will commit to a new political paradigm going forward – that of shared power, shared responsibilities and shared sacrifice. Should this occur, this evening may be transformed into the dawning of a bright new morning for the entire Commonwealth. Happy Tenth Year Anniversary GBIO – may God bless this night and the days to come with unparalleled realized possibilities for all who live within the borders of our Commonwealth.

Reverend Hurmon Hamilton
President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

As we celebrate the second year anniversary of health care reform in our Commonwealth, I often think about the Christian story noted above. Oh, how it summarizes the “Wonder” of Chapter 58! In this narrative, a man suffering from a 38 year illness lay near a pool among crowds of sick people. Once a year the waters of this pool would bubble (stirred by an angel) and the first one to step in would be healed. The crowds of sick people who did not get into the pool would have to keep waiting for years to come. Not so long ago, this was the case for hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts’ residents. They lived in a city comprised of some of the greatest hospitals and medical schools in the world, but their access to affordable, quality care was severely limited. For years they waited, prayed and hoped for a miracle. Today, two years after the miracle of Chapter 58, the wait is over for 340,000 people—and they are celebrating.

It is now time for all of us to shift our attention to the next phase of health reform – controlling cost, without capping enrollment or cutting benefits. This will mean that all of the stakeholders, the angels if you will, who made Chapter 58 a reality – will now have to do their part to make Healthcare Reform Part 2 a reality. But as we do, we must be sure to finish the first phase well, by insuring the continuation of strong outreach and enrollment until no one is left lying close to a pool of quality care without access. To this end, I applaud the House for level-funding the MassHealth outreach and enrollment grants at 3.5 million dollars for the FY09 budget. Outreach and enrollment work ensures that residents across the state are informed, enrolled, and STAY enrolled in the new health insurance programs now offered through Chapter 58. With 340,000 residents enrolled in health insurance and thousands more to go, the counseling, guidance and support provided through outreach and enrollment is essential. How tragic it would be for any residents of our Commonwealth, when asked during this year or the next, “Would you like to get health care coverage?”to respond like the man in the story above, “I can’t…for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” It is the task of well-funded state wide outreach and enrollment efforts to inform all; regardless of language, economic, or other barriers, “this is a new day….affordable healthcare is available and accessible right now!”

Next week, the house will vote on amendments to the budget and while outreach and enrollment grants were adequately funded, some technical language changes are needed to ensure the greatest success possible. Therefore, we strongly urge House leaders to vote YES to amendment number 457 sponsored by Rep. Kulik, with sign-ons from 32 legislators, in support of technical language changes to ensure greater stability and continuity in funding vital outreach and enrollment work across the state. The technical changes would institutionalize the grant program and set up a regular expectation for the annual grants. This would allow the agency to plan for the grants well in advance of the fiscal year and not leave a hiatus every summer and fall when the groups receiving the grants, particularly the traditional grants, are unfunded. This is smart policy and it makes sense.

As we celebrate the 2nd year of health reform with much pride, we rejoice that there will be a well-funded system in place that will enable thousands more to hear what the man in the story heard, “your long wait is over! The miracle of quality, affordable healthcare is not just for others, but it is for you! Get up, enroll, and, prayerfully, be healed. And Oh by the way, ‘we are here to help you’! Happy two year anniversary everybody!

Reverend Hurmon Hamilton
President, Greater Boston Interfaith Organization

Recently, the word” hope” has been batted around on the national stage like a new tennis ball in a Wimbledon Grand Slam Tennis Competition. But in a few weeks, Massachusetts will celebrate a powerful undisputable symbol of “hope” – the second year anniversary of Chapter 58. Two years ago, those who had hoped, prayed and worked for quality universal healthcare, even when there seem to be no reason to hope, rejoiced over our new healthcare law. Two years later, this new, experimental law is itself a “hope” – an “endangered hope” – yet to be fully realized in an environment of escalating medical cost, deteriorating economic realities, and an expanding index of human greed.

Last week, this “endangered hope” was almost mortally wounded when the Connector considered loading onto the backs of the poor, sick and most vulnerable indefensible hikes in premiums, co-pays and out-of-pocket maximums, while ignoring insurers, employers and hospitals as possible solutions to the growing financial challenge of funding this reform. Dangerous!

Thankfully, the Connector delayed its vote until later this month. Rick Lord, in his WBUR Blog stated that these increases are reasonable and that “Until we unite to tackle cost drivers head on… this difficult choice is one we must face regularly.”

There is no argument that we must all unite to tackle cost drivers. The Senate President’s release of her cost containment package this week is an important and welcome beginning to this critical dialogue. But Mr. Lord is wrong in asserting that the proposed cost-sharing increases are reasonable. To the contrary, they are dangerous! To my parishioner, Keith Rudolph, and thousands like him, the proposed changes are punitive and potentially harmful.

Keith Rudolph lives with this wife and 2 children in Worcester. He drives a truck for a local company. His family of four is on a fixed income, he is the sole bread winner as his wife is disabled and stays home to care for their 12 year old and 4 year old who has autism.

The financial strains on this family include the high cost of housing, heat and gas. Keith also pays $919 dollars a month in child support for his older children. He works 50-55 hours a week, depending on whether he can get extra shifts at work, and he sometimes drives a tour bus on Saturdays to earn extra money.

Keith recently enrolled in Commonwealth Care and pays $105/month in premiums. Under the current proposal his premiums would jump to $120/month. Keith is currently being monitored by a doctor for his blood sugar level and sleep apnea which require frequent visits to the doctor. Co-pays for these visits are expected to double. Depending on the outcome of his tests, co-pays for prescriptions may also double. In total, the Rudolph family is looking at increased costs of $15-$50 dollars each month – a significant increase in an incredibly tight family budget. Multiply this real story, by the thousands of others who share similar circumstances, and one can easily imagine how the hope of lasting health reform in our Commonwealth is truly “endangered”. Be clear, such action will threaten the very ones that the reform was birthed to protect.

On the other hand, we agree with the conclusion of Celia Wcislo’s, a Connector Board member, blog:

“The proposed course of dramatic cost-shifting to consumers, the state, and taxpayers is neither a short-term nor a long-term solution for funding healthcare reform. Why must working families and taxpayers shoulder the burden alone? Clearly, new revenue sources from hospitals, insurers, and from businesses who fail to provide affordable coverage to their employees, must be considered. “

Finally, we must remember that for families like the Rudolph’s health care is no longer an optional line-item in their family budget. They are now mandated to buy health insurance. If 14% increases in the affordability schedule are going to become an annual norm, the Massachusetts individual mandate experiment will quickly fail as the notion of affordability becomes a cruel joke.

GBIO, the Rudolphs, and thousands of others pray, work and “hope”………for a different conclusion!

Rev. Hurmon E. Hamilton, Jr
Senior Pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian Church USA
Chairman and CEO of Roxbury Presbyterian Church Social Impact Center, Inc.
President of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization