Regionilization

MA Public Health Regionalization Project
The MA Public Health Regionalization Project is an initiative facilitated by the BU School of Public Health with the goal:

To strengthen the Massachusetts public health system by creating a sustainable, regional system for equitable delivery of local public health services across the Commonwealth.

How to start a regional cooperation agreement in your municipality.
Public Health District Planning Toolkit - When concerned citizen and municipal leaders are interested in pursuing creative solutions to increasing the capabilities of the local boards of health they may consider cooperation with neighboring communities.

The Need
Massachusetts has over 300 Local Boards of Health, many of which are chronically underfunded and not able to maintain the 10 essential services of public health departments, putting their communities at risk.
Click here to learn more about Massachusetts' Public Health needs.

Why Regional Public Health Agreements?
Regional public health cooperation agreements
  • facilitate creative resource sharing among municipalities.
  • augment rather than reduce the existing public health workforce.
  • respect existing local legal health authority.
  • are supported by a voluntary initiatives.
Click here to learn more about regional public health cooperation. (coming soon)

What is the Regionalization Project?
The Projects history, membership and guiding principles have shaped our current progress in pursuing equitable public healths services
Click here for more information on the Regionalization Project.
News & Updates
Public Health District Planning Toolkit
The resources found in the Toolkit are intended to help communities assess opportunities for shared public health services and plan for implementation.  The toolkit especailly addresses the three essential elements that need to be in place for communities to share public health services: a formal structure with a legal agreement, a governing body and a fiscal agent. The Toolkit can be found here.
Update: Memo from Commissioner Auerbach
This memo addresses the concerns of the Coalition for Local Public Health regarding the impact on the Massachusetts Public Health Department's efforts to promote voluntary formation of regional health districts in the Commonwealth.
Update: Senate Bill 2568
Senate Bill 2568, An Act Relative to Public Health Regionalization in the Commonwealth was signed by the Governor and will be cited as Chapter 529 of the Acts of 2008. A brief summary of the bill can be found here.
This bill is the result of hard work by many, but especially Cheryl Sbarra and Laura Richards of MAHB. Relying upon feedback from local health officials around the state, the Working Group was able to work with the leadership of both the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing and the Joint Committee on Public Health to craft a bill that addresses the questions and concerns of local public health officials.

Special thanks should go to our legislative sponsors:
  • Senator Fargo - 617 722 1572
  • Representative Koutoujian - 617 722 2130
  • Representative Brownsberger - 617 722 2140
  • Speaker DiMasi - 617 722 2150
  • Senate President Murray - 617 722 1500