THE PIONEER BLOG

Michael Morisy

Why did Evergreen Solar backers miss the Chinese threat?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

In reviewing hundreds of pages of documents related to Massachusetts’ incentives for Evergreen Solar, decision makers made clear the risks of not investing: Passing on the proposal would lead to, officials stated, a loss of potential manufacturing jobs to other states or other countries while giving up a competitive position in an emerging manufacturing market that could set the Commonwealth back for years to come. What is much less clear, however, is what concerns about Evergreen Solar’s viability were considered. For example, there is almost no mention made of rival Chinese solar manufacturers despite the fact that less than four years later the downward pressure these manufacturers placed on solar pricing would ultimately help push Evergreen Solar towards bankruptcy. Reading […]

Jim Stergios

Rise of the Zune Monopolists

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

“Understand, I am not for monopoly when we can help it,” Louis Brandeis said in 1912. “We intend to restore competition. We intend to do away with the conditions that make for monopoly.” (Wikipedia) Brandeis had some inkling of what hare-brained schemes philanthropists could come up with. Remember the Simple Spelling Board Andrew Carnegie set up in 1906? The New York Times noted that Carnegie was convinced that “English might be made the world language of the future” and an influence leading to universal peace, but that this role was obstructed by its “contradictory and difficult spelling.” 105 years later, Sam Dillon of The New York Times produced a terrific piece of journalism in a May 2011 Sunday article on […]

Steve Poftak

Our Old Friend Film Tax Credits

/0 Comments/in , /by Steve Poftak

There’s a state commission that’s currently examining all the so-called “tax expenditures” that the state offers. The commission has said it wants to review the collection of tax expenditures and eliminate those that don’t make sense. Its also held out the possibility of a eliminating a number of targeted credits in exchange for a zero-sum cut to the overall tax rate (an outcome to be hoped for). May I nominate one expenditure to make? The Film Tax Credit. These credits have been controversial from the get-go. Proponents point to growth in employment due to the credits. Opponents counter that any industry receiving millions in tax credits would likely see some improvement. Its also a relatively small number of jobs (~5,000 […]

Jim Stergios

Some lessons for virtual learning

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

There is so much energy in the virtual learning space right now, with a number of products that are maturing and others that are continuing to grow exponentially. The free Khan Academy has provided almost 100 million exercises, now boasts about 3.5 million discrete users, and is growing at a rate of about 300,000 users a month (with the pace of growth increasing). That opens up all kinds of possibilities in terms of partnerships, branding and funding. That product is going worldwide fast, and branching out into many new academic areas. Getting the promise of digital learning right is going to be a challenge on a number of fronts. One challenge is that the two tons of money going into […]

Joshua Archambault

Will Mass Set up a Basic Health Plan under ACA?

/2 Comments/in , , /by

The Connector held its annual retreat this past weekend, and since the omnipresent Health Care for All (HCFA) representatives were not in attendance to write up a summary, I thought I would provide an overview of what was discussed at the meeting, and outline some of the future challenges for the Connector. The agenda can be found here. Basic Health Plan The Connector is seriously thinking about offering a basic health plan, an option in the ACA, and is one of the few states in the nation to be doing so. (When the Connector posts the slides from Saturday, I will link to them for more detail on the different circumstances being modeled.) With a BHP the federal government would […]

Joshua Archambault

Will the ACA Bankrupt the Mass Connector?

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The Connector held its annual retreat this past weekend, and since the omnipresent Health Care for All (HCFA) representatives were not in attendance to write up a summary, I thought I would provide an overview of what was discussed at the meeting, and outline some of the future challenges for the Connector. The agenda can be found here. State Budget Considerations The Commonwealth will have to finance state mandates that are over and above the federally set essential health benefits (EHB). The Connector has identified at least 7 current mandates that are unlikely to be in EHB. The Legislature will need to reopen the discussion over mandates. 40,000 legal immigrants will be enrolled back into Commonwealth Care due to a […]

Joshua Archambault

Obamacare Means Big Changes for Romneycare

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The Connector held its annual retreat this past weekend, and since the omnipresent Health Care for All (HCFA) representatives were not in attendance to write up a summary, I thought I would provide an overview of what was discussed at the meeting, and outline some of the future challenges for the Connector. The agenda can be found here. The main theme of the retreat was the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) impact on the Massachusetts reform. Connector staff, confirmed what Pioneer’s research has shown, that the Connector we know today will look very different by 2014. Here are a few of the examples of the policy discussions ahead: The Connector will need to figure out changes to the individual mandate (MEC […]

Joshua Archambault

The Connector Supports President Obama’s Reelection?

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The Connector held its annual retreat this past weekend, and since the omnipresent Health Care for All (HCFA) representatives were not in attendance to write up a summary, I thought I would provide an overview of what was discussed at the meeting, and outline some of the future challenges for the Connector. The agenda can be found here. I must mention a moment that I found especially troubling. Politics at the Connector. Secretary Gonzalez made a statement during a conversation about protecting the reputation of the Connector and media coverage that struck me as odd. He said that the Connector needs to be seen positively as it means a great deal to the political future of the Governor and the […]

Taylor Armerding

Frank: One of a kind, but not in a good way

/0 Comments/in , , /by Taylor Armerding

Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank’s retirement announcement prompted this from President Obama. “This country has never had a congressman like Barney Frank, and the House of Representatives will not be the same without him.” I’m no fan of the president, but in this case, I think he nailed it. It is the kind of “compliment” that could just as easily be an insult. It calls to mind the famous scene from “Amadeus,” after Mozart has just suffered through a lumbering, turgid opera composed by his rival, Salieri. “I never knew music like that was possible.” Mozart tells him, followed by, “One hears such sounds and what can one say but … ‘Salieri.’” Indeed, Obama could say what he said about Barney […]

Joshua Archambault

Session 6 -CMS & Mass Marriage Counseling

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Today marks the 6th extension granted to the Commonwealth for the Medicaid waiver that serves as the foundation for our 2006 reform. I have written about this before here and here. As a review, the Massachusetts MassHealth 1115 waiver from the federal government allowed the 2006 health reform to become a reality financially. The waiver was last negotiated by the Patrick Administration in 2008, and was extended until June 30, 2011. From SHNS this morning ($): HIGH-STAKES MEDICAID TALKS DRAG ON: Secretive negotiations between the Patrick administration and the Obama administration over the distribution of billions of dollars in Medicaid funding have failed to produce an agreement and will continue into December.  The outcome of the talks, which are occurring as Washington looks […]

Steve Poftak

Taking Commuter Rail In-House?

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

Bad idea. At least that appeared to be the consensus at commuter rail forum held this morning by A Better City (to mark the release of their paper on commuter rail). The event was structured around the idea of a public-private partnership as the next step in the operation of commuter rail. (The existing contract with MBCR expires in 18 months) I raised the issue of the Patrick Administration’s interest in possibly pulling the commuter rail operation back in-house. From March of this year: Lt. Gov. Tim Murray said the MBTA, a state agency, is eyeing a potential takeover of commuter rail operations when the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company’s contract expires in June 2013. “We’re going to look at […]

Steve Poftak

Examining Our Community Colleges

/0 Comments/in , /by Steve Poftak

Community Colleges are a popular topic these days – with two research reports (here and here) being issued in the past weeks. The first came from the Boston Healthcare Careers Consortium. It was released with a host of ‘stakeholders’ taking credit. This report has its share of consensus-speak but a few items jump off the page. First, the K-12 preparation level for many students is stunningly low – in Bunker Hill Community College’s entering 2009 class, 98% of students needed a remedial placement for at least one discipline (reading, English, and math) and over a third needed placements for all three. More importantly, the paper digs into the lack of coordination across the community college system – different requirements for […]

Jim Stergios

National standards will define local curricula

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

I don’t know why (well, actually, I do) the national standards project reminds me of France. Yesterday the quote from Jean Cocteau, today … Cardinal Richelieu. Armand-Jean du Plessis, later known to us as Cardinal Richelieu was responsible for expanding the reach of weak-willed King Louis XIII by weakening the regional noble powers and instituting a system of administrative enforcers (intendants). The good Cardinal made possible the Sun King, the king who went so far as to say L’etat c’est moi. A shrewd and cruel strategist, Richelieu defined the term eminence grise; in reality, he was bolder than a simple strategist waiting in the shadows. He earned himself the moniker of Red Eminence, red being of course the bright royal […]

Jim Stergios

Myths about National Standards: Myth #2

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

The French painter, poet, novelist, director, etc., Jean Cocteau noted the following about our need for myths: Man seeks to escape himself in myth, and does so by any means at his disposal. Drugs, alcohol, or lies. Unable to withdraw into himself, he disguises himself. Lies and inaccuracy give him a few moments of comfort. With education so rife with mediocrity, those satisfied with the status quo often resort to myth for comfort. Some schools don’t perform well, the myth goes, because poor and minority kids cannot excel; there’s the myth that if we only added more class time everything would be fine; there’s the myth that classroom size always or even most of the time matters. And, of course, […]

Joshua Archambault

Questions for the AG on Health Reform 2

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Attorney General Coakley spoke this afternoon at MAHP’s annual conference. I wanted to offer a few thoughts and questions. Video can be found here. I like the AG’s focus on transparency and health literacy, but I am not sure these actions alone move us towards fully engaged consumers when they still have employer sponsored insurance that covers most costs. What is their motive? Other questions: 1)Why are providers responsible for giving pricing information when insurers have that data? 2)What is the value of bringing everyone around a benchmark average price for a service? That does not reward low-cost/high quality service, it does the opposite, and allows higher cost/ lower quality service to remain. 3) Will rejections of provider contracts be per procedure, […]