Daily Archives: August 23, 2010

Are Paul Guzzi's Dual Roles A Conflict Of Interest?

Published August 23, 2010

WBUR’s Martha Bebinger, fresh off a one-year fellowship at Harvard’s Nieman Foundation, is back in the newsroom. Martha has years of experience covering health care and hospitals in Massachusetts. –AP

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Can you run an insurance company and the chamber of commerce without a conflict of interest?

Paul Guzzi finds himself in a dual role as president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the board at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts — the state’s largest health insurer.

Some hospitals and physicians are saying they aren’t sure, in some meetings with Guzzi, whether he represents the interests of employers (hospitals) or that of the insurer (Blue Cross).

Paul Guzzi

Paul Guzzi

Blue Cross is pressing hospitals to accept a new way to charge patients — changing the “procedure now, bill later” paradigm. The insurer says providers will spend less if doctors have to manage a budget for their patients.

Physicians and hospitals would receive bonus payments if they increase preventive care such as cancer screenings or asthma check-ups.  But providers could also lose money if they have to spend more than expected on patients.

Guzzi says he’s very sensitive to the possibility that what is best for hospitals and what is best for Blue Cross may be in conflict.

“There have been no conflicts to date, and if there were, I would recuse myself in either role,” he said.

Guzzi was elected chairman of the board for Blue Cross in March.

He says he is clear in dealing with hospitals, some of which are the state’s largest employers, that “my primary responsibility is to be CEO of the Chamber of Commerce. I have a non-executive role at Blue Cross and Blue Shield.”

Discussion about Paul Guzzi’s dual roles illustrates a larger dilemma for Massachusetts as it works to control rising health care costs: Can the state reign in health care spending without disrupting the jobs or research that makes Boston a health care mecca? What do you think?

Voter Registration Deadline Is Wednesday

Published August 23, 2010

The statewide primary election is Tuesday, Sept. 14. If you want to vote, or if you need to change your political affiliation beforehand, the deadline to register is Wednesday, Aug. 25.

I just moved to a different city, so I will have to re-register or cast a provisional ballot. I am not affiliated with a party (“Unenrolled”) so I would be allowed to request either a Democratic or Republican ballot on Election Day.

In Massachusetts, you can’t register online — only by mail or in person. You can download and print the registration form (English, PDF), though.

Monday Morning: Obama ≠ Muslim, Blogs Blocked, Water Falls From Sky

Published August 23, 2010

Just back from a week off the grid and catching up. (It doesn’t seem like I missed a busy week, though.) Here’s a roundup of some stories that caught my attention on this rainy Monday morning:

  • Archidocese Blocks Critics’ Blogs
    The Archdiocese of Boston, under attack by anonymous conservative Catholic bloggers, has blocked access to one of the websites from computers within the church’s Braintree headquarters.
  • Gov. Deval Patrick Backs Big Dig Firm For T job
    Gov. Deval Patrick, who’s blasted Republican rival Charles D. Baker for his role in the Big Dig fiasco, is pushing to hire Parsons Brinckerhoff – an architect of the Hub highway debacle — to help build the MBTA’s highly touted Green Line extension.
  • Some Mass. GOP Candidates Believe Obama Is Muslim
    Congressional candidates right here in Massachusetts say they think the president is a Muslim. Two Republicans, Robert Chipman of Plainville and Robert Delle of Westboro, are running for the 3rd District against U.S. Rep. James McGovern and have both said they believe Mr. Obama is a Muslim.
  • MIT Educator Wants To Make Stars Of Entrepreneurs
    Seeking to emulate Hollywood’s starry Walk of Fame, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology educator has proposed to honor successful local “geeks” and “suits.”
  • It’s Raining
    Rebecca Gould, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said the state would receive between 2 to 3 inches of rain.

What are you reading this morning?