BOSTON, MA – This week, South Shore Hospital was awarded $274,030 through the Health Policy Commission’s (HPC) Cost-Effective, Coordinated Care for Caregivers and Substance Exposed Newborns (C4SEN) Investment Program – a $1.5 million grant opportunity to address the holistic health care and social needs of substance exposed newborns (SEN) and their caregivers. C4SEN is funded through a $300,000 appropriation through the FY20 budget and $1,200,000 from the HPC’s Distressed Hospital Trust Fund (DHTF).
“I am so proud to say that South Shore Hospital was awarded funding through this program,” said Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth). “My mother served as a NICU nurse for over 40 years and I know through her just how wide-ranging and severe the complications substance exposed newborns face can be. It’s programs like this that improve outcomes and make a tangible difference in their lives.”
“I am thrilled that South Shore Hospital is receiving this critical funding to protect newborns,” said Representative James Murphy (D-Weymouth). “This important program ensures medical staff are able to continue to save lives and comfort babies that have been exposed to dangerous substances.”
“I’m pleased to know that through this state-funded program, South Shore Hospital will be able to expand access to care and treatment for substance-exposed newborns. I thank our hospital workers and caregivers for their life-saving work and their compassion when caring for our most vulnerable families,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy).
Through the C4SEN investment program, the HPC supports community hospitals and other providers to develop innovative care models that promote collaboration among appropriate primary care and specialty providers, behavioral health providers, community-based organizations (CBOs), and social service agencies to better coordinate care across domains to address the holistic health care and social needs of SEN and their Caregivers. The purpose of the C4SEN initiative is to connect SEN and their Caregivers to cost-effective treatments, care options, and resources that will help mitigate future health care and systemic costs including Early Intervention and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs.
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