MBLLC Calls For a PAuse in Crisis Standards of Care GUIDELINES

On Thursday, April 9, 2020 the MBLLC advocated for a pause in the Crisis Standards of Care guidance that the Department of Public Health (DPH) released to help hospitals determine who receives priority access to resources during the COVID-19 surge. Using comorbidities as a determinant, as was recommended in the guidance, would disproportionately impact minority communities. Common comorbidities include diabetes, a history of stroke, and more.
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The  MBLLC called for action through a letter to Governor Baker and also shared their concerns with the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) as hospitals across the Commonwealth began updating their standards to align with those recently released by the DPH.

The MBLLC later coalesced other Senators and Representatives in a sign-on letter to the Governor reiterating the need for a change in the standards. Learn more about the original request  through letters and press release included below.

As of April 20, 2020, the Standards where updated as is summarized in this Boston Globe Article and as can be seen in full here.