Listening Session
November 13, 2017 5-7 PM
Health Policy Commission
50 Milk Street 8th Floor
Boston, MA
The Special Commission to Study Switching Medications is hosting aListening Session to seek input from the public to inform our report and recommendations on non-medical medication switching for the Legislature.The goal of the Commission is listed in the paragraph below:
The commission shall investigate and study several areas including, the frequency by which patients are switched from prescription medications to other medications for non-medical reasons and without the consent or notification of the patients’ prescribing physicians; the frequency of a health provider prescribing an alternative drug in response to changes in health plan policies mid-year for non-medical reasons; evaluating the role of financial incentives to pharmacists and prescribers in prescription drug switching decisions, including fee, incentive or other contractual reward for choosing a drug alternative; determining the total cost to the commonwealth when individuals are switched from prescription drugs that have been safe and effective, including increased use of services, emergency rooms visits, inpatient hospital stays and outpatient office visits; and identifying the patient populations most impacted by and vulnerable to being switched from prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.
We welcome all members of the public who wish to share their ideas with us.We have requested Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for the meeting. Other Reasonable Accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. Include a description of the accommodation you will need, including as much detail as you can. Also include a way we can contact you if we need more information. Please allow at least two weeks(14days) advance notice. Last minute requests will be accepted, but may be impossible to fill.To request accommodations, email .
You may submit written testimony by November 13, 2017by emailing. Please submit electronic testimony as an attached Word document or as text within the body of the email and type “Medication Switching” in the subject line. All submissions should include the sender’s full name and address. Persons unable to submit electronic testimony should mail written testimony to EHS/MassHealth Publications, 100 Hancock Street, 6th Floor, Quincy, MA. 02171.
This event is a scent and fragrance free event. Please refrain from wearing fragrance products such as cologne, perfume, after shave, or using air fresheners while attending this event.