[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6207763,"mediaKeyId","3753153-dee22eba042c49243ad54d402f68f3d1","parentId",3753153,"title","Board endorses ‘Primary Care for You’ package, urges City Council consideration","audioSeconds",1681,"startMs",4390014,"endMs",6072000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3753153-dee22eba042c49243ad54d402f68f3d1&start=4390&end=6072","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3753153-dee22eba042c49243ad54d402f68f3d1/thumbnail_4390014.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6207763/Massachusetts/Board-endorses-Primary-Care-for-You-package-urges-City-Council-consideration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207763-0f1a1f071ccf9d3df6f98356091e832f/orig.mp4?Expires=1774844714&Signature=MMYc7xcFyl6Joa5N~XiNUrC2FnV5UtAdGPY~jnqXuXE4vp7afCywyuVaXYxSL~ONh~QI6m2-nZ1kiLDIsQ6dX5yeiG1Tck6NHJ5vA5nGKfBZFPHwIpTTQvRFZMZLaq9lh17PPPDIKR1-d77lAI1zEuvPzKdjaRi4xKquYkb5IGL8rvZa2kN1VXOw0sl8Xr7riVfcJVYf4bh5AeVbdmFilWFZRWO11Dt1WtYGfVn2neVacg8eg7t4Vk-gsys0L7VPZDFTPKdQvC7s0qzOpuWqs1ETY99-siAxmfGWEdvU6BVAVj6-6EDAn8JDIst-DNNJioEigrxspOHbqyowkl8NxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Worcester City, MA","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Worcester Board of Health voted to endorse the Primary Care for You (PC4U) legislative initiative, a set of bills that would increase primary‑care investment, change payment models and remove patient cost‑sharing for primary care, after a presentation from a physician who helped design the proposals.

Dr. Wayne Altman, chair of the Department of Family Practice at Tufts Medical Center, told the board the legislation aims to “double primary‑care investment,” shift from fee‑for‑service to a prospective monthly payment for practices, remove copayments and deductibles for primary care, and provide financing for a Primary Care Stabilization Fund that would include commercially insured patients. He described “transformers” — practice services such as behavioral‑health integration, care management and enhanced access — that the payment model would incentivize.

Board members expressed support for the effort and discussed how municipal endorsement could help generate momentum with the state delegation. The board voted to endorse the PC4U package (board motion referenced three bills by their meeting citations) and added a friendly amendment recommending that the City Council also consider taking a similar endorsement. The motion was made and seconded; members present voted yes and the motion carried.

Board members and presenters discussed next steps including outreach to the Worcester legislative delegation and to City Council committees to brief them on the proposals and to coordinate local endorsements. Dr. Altman said multiple municipalities and providers have endorsed the bills and that supporters expect to press for state action in the 2026 legislative session.

The board’s endorsement directs staff to share the board’s position with the City Council and to coordinate invitations for the presenter to brief the City Council or its public‑health committee. The endorsement is a formal expression of support from the Board of Health but does not itself change local law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Worcester City Board of Health 06/09/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a presentation by a Tufts physician, the Worcester Board of Health unanimously endorsed the Primary Care for You (PC4U) legislative package and asked staff to recommend City Council engagement to support the bills.","taxTitle","Worcester City, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",3734,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6207771,"Board hears updates on influenza, measles, bird flu and mosquito control; mosquito season messaging aimed at seniors",1030,243965,1274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3753153-dee22eba042c49243ad54d402f68f3d1&start=243&end=1274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3753153-dee22eba042c49243ad54d402f68f3d1/thumbnail_243965.jpg","/articles/6207771/Massachusetts/Board-hears-updates-on-influenza-measles-bird-flu-and-mosquito-control-mosquito-season-messaging-aimed-at-seniors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207771-6259ce29571397fab2ce59d1c2e36eb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1774844714&Signature=Bf-LiDMDtyoo6AVbWzgq~uwnoZXX9-Vdw2OxSDln6rIRRGbK90UdM9wO4ZxsVEmML5Bo1PkVtFldJhfh8PEXQxEdymvnPmY7-lZHp7xNI~drZdhdCg022NL3Q2PI1VDdzUS1pyxHivSDBQUZ7-prskZGpd6OeWuKJz2UovfOKfl8DatgLamZ0hH89aWgffjXcKUDMg6lMmNfhVN0Q-xwQEEWOrCw1td14TepyKYs~SYts92aLGuYpk~s6EKcjUV893-XBDMMfy39bNFGONpwiKA5B3bfxrRzaPcJIfp-rXESEK1TF05AALMHeOVyMWyRKhpzSl3nt9tHHVXLfLq8Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Worcester public‑health staff reported a decline in confirmed influenza and COVID‑19 cases in May compared with April but highlighted ongoing risks from new variants and other infectious threats, and described the city’s mosquito surveillance and control activities as mosquito season began.

“May cases: we have 38 confirmed cases” of influenza, and “42 cases reported in May” for COVID‑19, public‑health nursing staff reported, noting both figures were down from April counts (388 influenza and 66 COVID in April). The nursing report cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitoring of a new omicron variant labeled NV1.8.1 and said the CDC airport screening program had detected cases in several U.S. regions.

The board heard that measles cases worldwide had risen, with the presenter citing a CDC total of about 1,088 confirmed cases reported by 31 jurisdictions as of May 29 (the presenter said that total did not include Massachusetts); the presenter recommended CDC travel notices and measles guidance. The nursing update also covered avian influenza reporting: staff said more than 1,000 affected dairy cattle herds in 17 states had been reported and that the U.S. government canceled more than $700 million in Moderna funding for a vaccine candidate; CDC continued to report no sustained human‑to‑human H5 transmission.

Dr. Hirsch, who described the Central Mass Mosquito Control program’s long‑standing trapping and testing work in Worcester, explained how the program monitors mosquitoes for West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and other arboviruses and implements targeted spraying if a “positive hit” occurs in a neighborhood. He stressed preventive messaging — the “Five D’s” (avoid dusk and dawn outdoor activity, dress appropriately, drain standing water, and use repellents) — and described outreach to the Worcester Senior Center because older adults face higher risk from severe mosquito‑borne encephalitis.

“Mosquito season this year is a little bit unpredictable,” Dr. Hirsch said, noting a mild winter and variable spring rainfall can both affect mosquito abundance. He recommended DEET repellents and permethrin‑treated clothing as protective measures and said the mosquito program also applies larvicides in known breeding sites, including abandoned pools and culverts.

Board members asked for clarification about who would receive spray notices and how neighborhoods are informed. Staff said notices and safety instructions are distributed in advance where neighborhood spraying is planned, and that residents are advised to keep windows closed and pets inside during spray operations.

No formal board action was taken on the communicable‑disease updates; staff will continue routine reporting and outreach and said they would share links to CDC and Mass.gov guidance cited in the report.","Worcester Division of Public Health staff reported lower May influenza and COVID counts than April but warned of a new COVID variant and international measles outbreaks; staff and the Central Mass mosquito control program urged precautions for an uncertain mosquito season, with outreach targeted to older residents.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6207773,"Worcester Board of Health asks city staff to coordinate services for immigrants after attorney’s briefing",4169,102615,4272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3753153-dee22eba042c49243ad54d402f68f3d1&start=102&end=4272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3753153-dee22eba042c49243ad54d402f68f3d1/thumbnail_102615.jpg","/articles/6207773/Massachusetts/Worcester-Board-of-Health-asks-city-staff-to-coordinate-services-for-immigrants-after-attorneys-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6207773-96abc98c33d4a60065b61a1d65200060/orig.mp4?Expires=1774844714&Signature=KOyimEdgzAhlSk6U~tfhWfXJau6BqBKHTO9m9Rp9Sk23TOvg621~qS6sekJaPTvRC51yuy2Fu1fYfN0aBxgaOq~IAqM3Lgd9K4~Hlrm9C3ld4kd0fshADKiWQgK1NQxXLHWRVlIIfKDUdCrrFCJZuNfqhixcL0KQtXQI8Q9u3GT9hYsZkyS12nSrvaC9A1rseCty4HfidYdoAxBy16q~JWYVSZUzhnxlHsm20Y2IAvyrv4iM8lyIftSAbdPwyX62ElBjoT~x~lSopeOttgMvTFuXgUAS3KtNX4tonPKi6LVKxcUe0s9sOlZmjXo61bB4Q81et~85JjkR1mMZlDjDzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Worcester Board of Health voted to ask city staff to work with outside experts to develop a coordinated municipal approach to services for immigrants and recent arrivals, following a presentation that framed immigration status as a social determinant of health.

Alex Moragian, an immigration attorney who said he works in refugee and asylum matters, told the board that immigration status “is definitely a social determinant of health” and described legal pathways and supports that local organizations use to help people detained or at risk of removal. He urged local agencies to expand housing, medical and mental‑health supports and to improve referral pathways so people can access legal relief when eligible.

Moragian told the board that Worcester has an estimated 45,000–50,000 foreign‑born residents (2023 data) and that a substantial share of recent arrivals remain noncitizens. He described concrete forms of relief — asylum, special immigrant juvenile status, U and T visas, and hardship‑based applications — and the kinds of local social‑service supports (medical evaluations, wraparound services, witness statements, housing and reentry supports) that judges and bond hearings often want to see. “We can’t be totally on defense,” he said, urging local officials to combine enforcement vigilance with affirmative programs that let people tell their stories, access care, and pursue stabilization.

Board members responding to the presentation said Worcester’s current response relies heavily on nonprofit and volunteer efforts and that a city‑level system could improve outreach to schools, clinics and community groups that already work with immigrants. After discussion, the board approved a motion directing staff to contact the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco for guidance and to begin developing a process for coordinating city departments and community organizations to support immigrant residents. The motion was made by Gary Rosen and seconded; the recorded vote was in favor by the three board members present.

Speakers in public comment and during board discussion raised the need for carefully designed referral pathways to attorneys and community clinics so that individuals are not unintentionally exposed to immigration authorities when seeking help. Rystar Health and other local clinics were named as existing service providers that could join a coordinated effort; some speakers asked city staff to consider funding for legal application fees, naturalization assistance, and English‑language access.

The board asked staff to return with a plan for next steps and to consider convening relevant nonprofits, school officials and city departments. The action does not itself change city policy; it directs staff to gather guidance and develop options for city leaders and the City Council to consider.

Members and staff said they will seek to present findings to the City Council or its public‑health committee once staff have reviewed the ILRC materials and local partners’ capacity.

The board’s motion and vote concluded the immigration item; staff will report back to the board with the recommended next steps and any resource implications.","After a presentation on immigration as a public‑health issue, the Worcester Board of Health voted to ask city staff to pursue guidance and a coordinated municipal response to better serve immigrant and recent‑arrival residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board endorses ‘Primary Care for You’ package, urges City Council consideration

Board hears updates on influenza, measles, bird flu and mosquito control; mosquito season messaging aimed at seniors

Worcester Board of Health asks city staff to coordinate services for immigrants after attorney’s briefing