Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The cost of colonoscopies, MRIs, CT scans and mammograms can shift a lot from place to place.
It costs $630 less to get a colonoscopy in our Norfolk County than the statewide average cost. That's according to data from New Choice Health, a private company that encourages people to become smarter healthcare consumers. It also costs $730 less to get a CT Scan in our Norfolk County than the statewide average cost, $60 less to get a mammogram and $500 less to get an MRI. These big regional differences have been in the news lately: As the Washington Post wrote on Wednesday, "One hospital charges $8,000 - another $38,000." Using the same data as the Post, The New York Times listed out the prices of a series of procedures in hospitals across the country. The Times and the Post used data from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. …
Sunday, January 6, 2013
The Phia Group on Bay State Drive in Braintree was among 87 companies in Massachusetts to receive state funding.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, January 6
The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced $6,846,496 in Workforce Training Fund grants to 87 Massachusetts companies. The grants, which support up to two years of training, will create 682 new jobs and train over 6,300 workers. The Phia Group, LLC, a health care cost containment firm on Bay State Drive in Braintree was awarded $152,813, with 79 employees to be trained, and 10 additional jobs to be created as a result of training. "We are focused on addressing the skills gap issue in the Commonwealth so that workers can compete in today’s ever-changing jobs market,” said Governor Deval Patrick. "The Workforce Training Fund focuses on the needs of both our businesses and workers, as Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in …
Monday, September 17, 2012
Sen. John Keenan talks about the busy formal session that ended over the summer, including issues such as Melissa's bill, pension reform and human trafficking.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, September 17, 2012
The following is from Sen. John Keenan, D-Quincy: Health care costs. Welfare fraud. Human trafficking. Pension reform. These are just some of the important issues addressed by the Legislature this session. As a freshman state senator, I believe the session that ended on July 31 was overall a productive one. Some issues grab more headlines than others. Our debates over casino legislation, for example, drew significantly more attention than the fact we sent a record amount of state aid back to our cities and towns, or that Massachusetts was just one of four states nationally to receive an improved bond rating. In addition, we eliminated parole for habitual violent offenders, addressed illegal foreclosures and auto repair rules, revamped …
Friday, August 17, 2012
Joe Selvaggi is Republican candidate for Representative in US Congress in the new 8th District. He is a US Navy Veteran, a graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Harvard Kennedy School, and co-founder and president of Plaster Fun Time, Inc.
- ELECTIONS
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Friday, August 17, 2012
Debt, deficit, the economy, and jobs are the words on the lips of every candidate competing for your vote this election year. I contend that the rising cost of health care is the key to addressing each of these issues. As a nation we spend each year nearly $2.5 trillion of our total income on health care, a number that equates to $8000 per person. Making matters worse, health care costs are expected to continue to outstrip inflation for the foreseeable future. Why? While waste, fraud, excessive profits, and poor controls are often offered as reasons, they are not the problem. Health care costs rise because consumers lack choice. Unlike in a true market, American health care consumers must blindly choose prescriptions, doctors, hospitals…
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
There are too many initiatives to rehash in a single column, so I will address a few of these issues now, and provide updates on local legislation in my next column, Keenan says.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012
The following is from Sen. John Keenan, D-Quincy. Health care costs. Welfare fraud. Human trafficking. Pension reform. These are just some of the important issues addressed by the Legislature this session. As a freshman state senator, I believe the session that ended on July 31 was overall a productive one. Some issues grab more headlines than others. Our debates over casino legislation, for example, drew significantly more attention than the fact we sent a record amount of state aid back to our cities and towns, or that Massachusetts was just one of four states nationally to receive an improved bond rating. In addition, we eliminated parole for habitual violent offenders, addressed illegal foreclosures and auto repair rules, revamped …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Massachusetts State Senate recently considered and approved first-in-the-nation legislation that attempts to reduce the growth in health care costs.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
The cost of health care has grown at an almost double-digit annual rate over the past decade, due inpart to the rising cost of medical technology, growth in the number of tests and procedures, and to the salaries paid to health care professionals. What is particularly clear, is that this rate of growth is unsustainable. We cannot keep spending more and more of our household incomes on health insurance premiums, deductibles, co-pays and other out-of-pocket expenses. Small businesses are finding it increasingly expensive to provide coverage and the government cannot keep up with the costs of Medicare and Medicaid. It is against this backdrop that the Massachusetts State Senate recently considered and approved first-in-the-nation legislation …
Saturday, March 3, 2012
This year’s 75 Blue Ribbon winners were selected from a record number of nationwide applicants and will be honored at America’s Small Business Summit 2012, May 21–23, in Washington, D.C.
- BUSINESS
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Saturday, March 3, 2012
The Phia Group, LLC, of Braintree, Massachusetts, was named a Blue Ribbon Small Business Award® winner today by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The company was recognized for its dedication to the principles of free enterprise and its contributions to restoring jobs and prosperity. “The recipients of this year’s Blue Ribbon Award excelled in business amid great uncertainty and thrived despite difficult economic times,” said Thomas J. Donohue, U.S. Chamber president and CEO. “More important than profits, their successes have provided much-needed jobs and hope to the people in their communities.” The Phia Group works consults with health insurance companies on cost containment. The awards program, sponsored by Sam’s Club®, honors companies …
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Jeanne Zarrella
11:37 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
Senator Keenan, his a staff, along with Local 25 also took time this summer to assist students from BHS' Project Prove. The generosity of aforementioned allowed students to participate in Braintree's July 4th celebration, capturing First Prize in the float competition. Students from Prove also enjoy working in the Senator's office during the school year. Much appreciation from a parent of one of … more ›