Reply #30: No, but it looks like

[ProSense]

he was there to announce funding in conjunction with the new health care law provisions.

Kerry Announces Four MA Organizations To Receive $6.2 Million For Public Health

Funding will help address childhood obesity, smoking cessation and will bolster state’s health information systems

BOSTON – On the six month anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Health Care Act, Senator John Kerry today announced that four Massachusetts organizations will receive a total of $6,246,482 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The federal funding will go towards key health priorities across the state, including addressing childhood obesity and smoking cessation.

Kerry made the announcement on Friday while touring Boston Medical Center. He was on hand to highlight how national health reform will benefit Massachusetts hospitals, such as BMC. He’ll also discuss his plans to continue to work with BMC on securing much needed federal funding for the short term as well as its long term. BMC is one of the top 20 employers in Massachusetts, leading the way in the new world of health care delivery.

“These are investments to make Massachusetts healthier. We know we need to focus not just on sickness, but on wellness. The unique work being done at BMC, at the Food Pantry here and by organizations like the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality is ensuring Massachusetts continues to lead the way in quality, affordable healthcare,” said Senator John Kerry.

The following MA organizations will receive funding:

$4,983,638 National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality – Boston

The funding will allow the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality to create and manage a new Prevention Center for Healthy Weight to address obesity in children and families. This is a monumental achievement, and a national model that once again will have Massachusetts setting the standard in healthcare achievements.

$718,230 Massachusetts State Department of Public Health – Boston

The funding will allow the Massachusetts State Department of Public Health to increase its epidemiology, laboratory and health information systems capacity, including hiring specialists who can work on multiple infectious diseases and increasing the number of labs using electronic medical records.

$460,690 Community Healthlink, Inc. – Worcester

The funding, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at HHS, will allow Community Healthlink to improve the coordination of healthcare services in the Worcester area, particularly by supporting and promoting better primary care and behavioral health services for individuals with mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

$83,924 Massachusetts Department of Health – Boston

The funding will help the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to implement a plan to reduce tobacco use through legislative, regulatory, and educational arenas, as well as enhance and expand the national network of tobacco cessation quit lines to significantly increase the number of tobacco users who quit.