Speech  Auditor Bump Testifies in Support of Bills to Ensure a Nurse is a Member of the Health Policy Commission

Good morning Chairwoman Friedman, Chairwoman Benson, and members of the Committee. I am pleased to join you today to testify in support of H.2664 and S.701, identical bills that will ensure that a Massachusetts registered nurse holds a permanent seat on the Health Policy Commission’s 11-member oversight board.

In my role as State Auditor, I am responsible for appointing two HPC members, one of whom has “demonstrated expertise in the development and utilization of innovative medical technologies and treatments for patient care.”   

Earlier this year, when my appointee relocated to the west coast, I became aware of Rep. Kay Khan’s interest in this matter and sought her help in finding a suitable candidate. I immediately perceived the benefit of naming a real-life career practitioner to be added to the government officials, health care execs, economists and others who compose the board. While those other individuals bring important insight and experience, the addition of a nurse brings an understanding of what really happens in a medical office, a hospital, a community clinic, a research facility, and a hospice bedside.

Nurses are too seldom included in the health care cost, access, and quality discussions that are occurring every day, in meeting rooms both public and private. Effective patient care is not in the least bit theoretical. And, the ongoing experience of a nurse will provide the Health Policy Commission with a unique perspective that must be heard if we are to meet the goals of containing cost, healing the underserved, and improving outcomes.

Therefore, I appointed Barbara Blakeney, a registered nurse, a pioneer in patient care, and nursing education leader and expert in the development and utilization of innovative treatments, to the Health Policy Commission. Since we cannot count on my successor in the State Auditor’s office to be as enlightened in this regard as the incumbent is, I would recommend that this position be legislatively mandated to be held by a registered nurse who possesses the requisite expertise in health care innovation. I can assure you, they are not in short supply.  

Nurses are the voice of the patient, the family, and the community, and all these voices need to be heard in the policy-making process.

I ask that you join me in support of these two important bills and vote them favorably out of committee.

Thank you again for giving me this opportunity to testify before you today.