Remarks of Senate President Karen Spilka Ahead of Senate Debate on Primary Care Reform

As prepared for delivery

Good morning, everyone,

Thank you for joining us today as the Senate prepares to debate an act relative to primary care for you – an important step towards helping residents access the quality healthcare they deserve.

There are many people to recognize for their efforts in getting this bill to the Senate floor, but first and foremost I would like to thank my friend and colleague, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, Senator Cindy Friedman.

We are lucky to have her experience and expertise as we continue to make health care more accessible and affordable here in the Commonwealth.

I’d also like to recognize our Senate Ways & Means Chair, Michael Rodrigues, David Seltz, the co-chair of the Primary Care Task Force, the Health Policy Commission Executive Director – and – former Senate Ways & Means staffer, Christina Severin, President and CEO of Community Care Cooperative, Dr. Wayne Altman, the founder of the MA Primary Care Alliance, a Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, the Vice President of the Massachusetts Academy of Family Physicians, and President of the Family Practice Group at The Sagov Center for Family Medicine, and Jen Lemmerman, the Executive Director of Health Care For All.

This was truly a collaborative effort, and we are honored to be joined by you all as we take up this bill.

As we know, Massachusetts has long been a global leader in healthcare innovation. Our hospitals, research institutions, and medical professionals are among the best in the world. But – too often – many people right here at home struggle with something very basic: getting in to see a primary care provider. Residents can spend months waiting for an appointment—or worse, they can’t find a provider at all.

But when small health issues go unaddressed, they quickly become more complicated, more dangerous –and far more expensive health challenges.

That’s why the Senate is taking a major step today toward making healthcare more accessible and more affordable by prioritizing primary and preventive care. By increasing direct investment in primary care, we’re giving health care practices the resources they need to hire more providers, keep their doors open, and reduce wait times.

Second, we’re shifting our healthcare system toward prevention instead of crisis response. That means fewer emergency room visits, fewer costly specialty procedures, and better long-term health outcomes for everyone. We’re also strengthening the Community Health Centers that serve as the primary care backbone for so many neighborhoods – so they can pay staff fairly, expand hours, and care for more patients in a low-cost setting.

Another key piece of this bill focuses on training more primary care and behavioral health doctors right here in Massachusetts. More training opportunities mean more doctors entering primary care—and that means better access for everyone. And importantly, all of these improvements are designed to increase access without raising premiums or overall healthcare spending.

When and if this bill is signed into law, these changes will help people book appointments more easily, ensure communities have reliable and affordable care, grow our primary care workforce, and prevent expensive and tragic emergencies by catching health issues early.

In the global hub of health care excellence, no one should have to wait months—or travel to another state—just to see a doctor or nurse practitioner. By investing in primary care, we will lower costs over time, strengthen our healthcare system, and support healthier communities across the Commonwealth.

And now please join me in welcoming Senate Health Care Financing Chair Cindy Friedman.

Thank you.