Health Care Heartaches: Your Winning Health Policy Valentines - KFF Health News
KFF Health News shares our favorite reader-submitted health policy valentines. One struck us in the heart and inspired an original cartoon.
I thought it was love
My heart felt spring-loaded
Turns out our relationship
Was significantly upcoded
Thanks to Andrew Carleen @masshpc.bsky.social 💕
Read the rest of our favorite health policy valentines submitted by readers ⤵️
14.02.2026 14:52 — 👍 4 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 0
Health policy valentine reading: Take my handkerchief
Take my cough drop wrappers, too
For I can’t help coming down with the flu…
Vaccinate or find yourself in my predicament, too
💝 Take my handkerchief
Take my cough drop wrappers, too
For I can’t help coming down with the flu…
Vaccinate or find yourself in my predicament, too
#HealthPolicyValentines
13.02.2026 15:28 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Health policy valentine reading: Roses are red,
Daisies are yellow,
In a complex health care market,
You make things clearer, RPO
💟 Roses are red,
Daisies are yellow,
In a complex health care market,
You make things clearer, RPO
#HealthPolicyValentines
Learn more about the HPC’s Registration of Provider Organizations (RPO): masshpc.gov/moat/rpo
13.02.2026 15:14 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Health policy valentine reading: Roses are red
The medicine I practice is preventive
I’ll care for you
No matter the financial incentive
💌 Roses are red
The medicine I practice is preventive
I’ll care for you
No matter the financial incentive
#HealthPolicyValentines
13.02.2026 14:53 — 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Health policy valentine reading: I should call you my deductible,
The way I spend all year yearning to reach you.
💜 I should call you my deductible,
The way I spend all year yearning to reach you.
#HealthPolicyValentines
13.02.2026 14:26 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Valentine reading: 💞 I’d invite you to my place,
even make you some keys.
But, baby, there’s just no chance
you could afford my facility fees.
💞 I’d invite you to my place,
even make you some keys.
But, baby, there’s just no chance
you could afford my facility fees.
#HealthPolicyValentines
13.02.2026 14:15 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Graph depicting denial reasons for health care claims in Massachusetts
📊Explore the latest issue of the HPC DataPoints series, “Evidence of Administrative Complexity: Health Insurance Claim Denials in Massachusetts.”
🔗: masshpc.gov/publications...
#HealthPolicy
05.02.2026 17:57 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
Panel speakers on stage at conference
Yesterday, Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) Executive Director David Seltz joined state health policy leaders at the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association Annual Conference.
Thank you to @mahealthhosp.bsky.social for convening these important conversations!
30.01.2026 14:38 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Group of smiling people posed in a line
On Friday, HPC Executive Director David Seltz toured the new Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center facility and met with the team protecting health care access in Worcester.
Thank you to the center for your leadership in advancing equitable, accessible care for all MA residents.
12.01.2026 15:06 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
HPC Statement on Stuart H. Altman, Ph.D. | Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
Image BOSTON — Stuart H.
We mourn the loss of Stuart H. Altman, Ph.D., a leader in health policy and economics and the inaugural chair of the HPC.
“Dr. Altman dedicated his life to a health care system that is affordable and accessible for all,” said HPC Executive Director David Seltz.
06.01.2026 17:15 — 👍 7 🔁 4 💬 0 📌 4
Graphic of speech bubble reading "The HPC is hiring! 2026 Summer Fellowship"
Apply today for the Health Policy Commission’s (HPC) 2026 Summer Fellowship program!
📆 Deadline: January 20th
🔗 Apply: massachusettshealthpolicycommission.applytojob.com/apply/dLMSLR...
📖 Read the 2025 Fellowship Report to learn more: masshpc.gov/publications...
16.12.2025 16:12 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Graphic of speech bubble reading "The HPC is hiring! 2026 Summer Fellowship"
Apply today for the Health Policy Commission’s (HPC) 2026 Summer Fellowship program!
📆 Deadline: January 20th
🔗 Apply: massachusettshealthpolicycommission.applytojob.com/apply/dLMSLR...
📖 Read the 2025 Fellowship Report to learn more: masshpc.gov/publications...
16.12.2025 16:12 — 👍 1 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Graph depicting commercial spending 2019-2023, further detail available in publication
📊Explore the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission’s (HPC) latest interactive DataPoints issue, Examining the True Costs of Care: Patient Cost Sharing in Massachusetts.
➡️Read more: masshpc.gov/publications...
#HealthPolicy
16.12.2025 15:05 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Quote reading "Establishing a primary care spending target will strengthen primary care in the Commonwealth and pave the way for more affordable, equitable, and accessible health care."
The Massachusetts Primary Care Task Force calls for a primary care spending target. This bold action will address systemic underinvestment in primary care and prioritize resident health and health system stability.
🔗Read more: masshpc.gov/sites/defaul...
#PrimaryCare
15.12.2025 21:37 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Graphic reading 2025 Annual Health Care Cost Trends Report and Policy Recommendations
📢The 2025 Health Care Cost Trends Report calls for recommitment to the health care cost growth benchmark and urgent action to tame growth.
📖Read the report: masshpc.gov/publications...
📊Explore an interactive out-of-pocket spending data overview: masshpc.gov/publications...
11.12.2025 18:23 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
Board Meeting - December 11, 2025
YouTube video by MA Health Policy Commission
Live now: Tune in to the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) Board meeting!
Commissioners will reflect on the Health Care Cost Trends Hearing, review recent health policy action, and issue the 2025 Health Care Cost Trends Report.
Watch: www.youtube.com/live/jckgdR0...
11.12.2025 17:06 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Text superimposed over an outline of Massachusetts: "97.9% of Massachusetts residents with health insurance; 28.4% of Massachusetts residents whose family skipped needed medical care due to cost."
Massachusetts maintains a high rate of health insurance coverage at 97.9%—but health care affordability issues for residents remain. See results of the Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey (MHIS).
See: tinyurl.com/bdeh3z7d
#MassCHIA #HealthData #HealthPolicy #Massachusetts
11.12.2025 15:36 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
➡️Live now: Watch the Maternal Health Access and Birthing Patient Safety Task Force, co-chaired by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
🔗Watch live: www.youtube.com/live/6Tx8p3q...
#MaternalHealth #HealthPolicy #HealthEquity
09.12.2025 15:13 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
YouTube video by MA Health Policy Commission
Primary Care Task Force Workforce Workgroup
Watch live today: Primary Care Task Force workgroup meetings!
➡️10:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET, Workforce Workgroup Meeting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLYM...
➡️2:30 – 4:00 PM ET, Data and Research Workgroup Meeting: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzn3...
#PrimaryCare #HealthPolicy
18.11.2025 15:05 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Meetings | Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
Thank you for joining the HPC for the 2025 Health Care Cost Trends Hearing! #CTH25
Find upcoming HPC public meetings online: masshpc.gov/meetings
12.11.2025 21:47 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The hearing now turns to public testimony. #CTH25
12.11.2025 21:29 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Chair Devaux summarizes key themes of the panel including the need for collective efforts to maintain coverage, importance of health planning & HPC's new Office of Health Resource Planning, the need for using data to improve care/lower costs, administrative simplification, & the future of AI #CTH25
12.11.2025 21:10 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Chair Devaux: What strategies can we pursue to address affordability and access challenges? Reduce coverage losses from OB3, maximize federal resources, strengthen benchmark, payment redesign, health planning, reduce admin complexity, support CHCs, invest in primary care. #CTH25
12.11.2025 20:15 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The final panel of the day, “Moving Forward Together: How CEOs are Maintaining a Focus on Affordability in a Time of Uncertainty,” brings together leaders to discuss how organizations are strategically responding in the current, uncertain environment. #CTH25
12.11.2025 19:48 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Commissioner Leibman closes out the panel with a forward-looking question: What do we need to be ready for next? Panelists highlight cell and gene therapy – another area where the payment system needs to evolve to meet the science. #CTH25
12.11.2025 19:47 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
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Professor, Boston University Questrom School of Business. Applied micro, health and behavioral economics.
For over 35 years, the National Academy for State Health Policy has been a nonpartisan organization committed to developing and advancing state health policy innovations and solutions.
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