Dear friends,
I am writing to you today with legislative, public health, and Cambridge updates.
Table of Contents
Legislative Updates
Public Health Updates
Cambridge Updates
A Glimpse at the Past Week
Services and Resources
Legislative Updates
Letter to the Department of Public Utilities Regarding High Delivery Charges
Last week, I joined over 80 of my colleagues in both the House and the Senate in signing onto a letter calling upon the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to reassess outrageously high rate adjustments from utility companies this winter, especially those levied by Eversource. I have heard from many constituents about the toll that skyrocketing energy costs have had on them and their families, and this issue has affected Massachusetts residents throughout the Commonwealth, particularly those with low incomes or living in public housing. You can read the letter here.
As you may have seen, DPU this week ordered the six gas utilities operating in Massachusetts to cut delivery fees by enough to reduce the average consumer bill by at least 5% over the next two months. While this rate adjustment will begin next month as the warmer spring weather returns, it is heartening to see action being taken by DPU on this issue.
There are resources available to those struggling to pay their heating and electric bills. The Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program helps eligible households pay a portion of their bills, and staff from the program can assist those experiencing a no-heat situation or immediate shutoff at 617-665-6234.
Public Health Updates
Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces New Partnerships to Improve Maternal and Cardiometabolic Health
On Wednesday, the Healey-Driscoll Administration announced a partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation (BCBSMA) and Atrius Health Equity Foundation as part of their Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM) initiative. This initiative aims to reduce health disparities across the state through community-based interventions, focusing on 30 communities across the state with high rates of premature death from heart disease and other preventable causes. Cardiometabolic disease is a leading cause of death across Massachusetts and a major contributor to maternal mortality in the US. State data shows Chicopee and New Bedford residents are more likely to experience early deaths related to heart disease and diabetes, and these communities also have a higher percentage of individuals living in poverty compared to the state average. The announced partnerships will fund community-level initiatives in Chicopee and New Bedford to identify and address community needs related to maternal health and social factors affecting cardiometabolic health.
First CDC Vaccine Committee Meeting Since the Trump Administration Took Office Postponed
The first meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) since the Trump administration took office has been postponed. There is no timeline for when the meeting will be rescheduled. ACIP is an independent group of medical and public health experts responsible for making evidence-based vaccine recommendations on behalf of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Committee’s work forms the basis of the CDC’s vaccine recommendations for children and adults and determines which vaccines health insurers are required to cover. According to the draft meeting agenda, Committee Members were set to discuss and take votes on numerous vaccines, including meningococcal, chikungunya, and influenza vaccines. A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated the meeting was canceled to allow more time for members of the public to submit comments.
New Report Shows RI and MA Have Highest Rates of Hospital Occupancy Post-Pandemic
The percentage of hospital beds occupied by patients has increased nationwide as the number of healthcare workers available to care for them has declined. As part of COVID-19 data tracking efforts, hospitals in the U.S. were mandated to report weekly occupancy to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services between August 2020 and April 2024 to monitor trends in healthcare system stress, hospitalizations, and capacity across the country. A new report published Wednesday by the Journal of the American Medical Association highlights that the average hospital occupancy rate in the U.S. rose from approximately 64% before the COVID-19 pandemic (2009 to 2019) to 75% during the post-COVID-19 public health emergency (May 2023 to April 2024). Rhode Island recorded the highest average hospital occupancy in the year following the pandemic, with a rate of 90%, followed closely by Massachusetts at 86%. New Hampshire had an average occupancy rate of nearly 82%, all higher than the national average of 75%.
Trump Administration Terminates Staff Responsible for Pet and Livestock Drug Safety
Over the weekend, hundreds of employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) received termination letters. In total, about 750 CDC employees and between 1,000 and 1,200 NIH employees were terminated; the total number of eliminated positions at the FDA is unknown. At all three health agencies, most who lost their jobs were staff still in their probationary periods. Typically, probationary periods last between one and two years and apply to new employees or employees who have moved to new positions in the agency. These employees typically have fewer protections. At the FDA, a third of the employees at the Center for Veterinary Medicine were affected by the layoffs. As an arm of the FDA, the Center for Veterinary Medicine is responsible for regulating drugs, food and feeds, and medical devices for animals.
Cambridge Updates
Throughout February, the City of Cambridge will host a series of events celebrating Black History Month. The events will touch upon Black heritage, culture, film, poetry, music, theater, and food:
Central Square Cooks Book Group- Cooking from Jubilee by Toni Tipton-Martin on February 27 from 6 – 7 p.m. at the Cambridge Public Library.
MBTA 2025 Construction Schedule
The MBTA recently released an outline of its 2025 Planned Closures, which focus on further upgrades to tracks, signals, and other key infrastructure.
Within the district, the Red Line will experience two closures between Alewife and Kendall stations:
The Red Line will be closed the night of October 3rd and all day on October 4th and 5th
The Red Line will be closed the night of October 24th and all day on October 25th and 26th
I am so grateful for General Manager Phil Eng’s leadership throughout his service at the MBTA. I know that the increased speed and frequency of Red Line trains has been much appreciated by our Cambridge community and beyond.
A Glimpse at the Past Week
My office has continued to meet with advocates and stakeholders to discuss and understand the impacts of the proposed Department of Mental Health (DMH) cuts outlined in the Governor FY2026 Budget Proposal. As I mentioned in my previous newsletter on January 31, there has been a proposed closure of Pocasset Mental Health Center and Relocation of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital. The Governor's budget also includes a $16 million cut on intensive residential treatment programs severely impacting youth programming administered by DMH.
As a legislator and the House Chair of the Joint Committee Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery during the 2019-2020 session, I authored landmark legislation that addressed school-based mental health, insurance coverage of behavioral health, hospital rate paying, and continuity of behavioral healthcare. Mental health is a crucial issue to me, and I will continue to lead efforts to ensure expanding access and improving services for behavioral and mental health care and services.
Cambridge Public Health Helpline Supports Residents with COVID-19
To speak with someone, call the confidential COVID-19 Hotline at 617-933-0797. Learn more here.
Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention Helpline
This initiative is designed to prevent intimate partner violence by fostering accountability and change in people who harm or may harm their partner. You can find more information at 10to10helpline.org or by calling 877-898-3411.
SafeSpot Overdose Prevention Helpline
SafeSpot is a virtual spotting/overdose detection service for people who use drugs. Learn more at safe-spot.me or access it by calling 800-972-0590.
De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
De Novo is a Cambridge-based nonprofit that provides free civil legal assistance and affordable psychological counseling to people with low incomes. You can learn more about their services at denovo.org.
MassLegalHelp.org is a resource to help Massachusetts residents learn about their legal rights. The website does not offer legal advice or answer individual questions but has a page about options for finding a lawyer. It does provide resources for those facing legal issues, such as a landlord refusing to make repairs, appealing the denial of SNAP benefits, and questions about getting a CORI sealed.
As always, please contact me with questions or concerns at Marjorie.Decker@mahouse.gov.
Sincerely,
Marjorie