Mary Z. Connaughton v. Executive Office of Health & Human Services (SPR 20221463)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records July 6, 2022 SPR22/1463 Patricia M. Scanlan Primary RAO Executive Office of Health and Human Services One Ashburton Place, 11th Floor Boston, MA 02108 Dear Ms. Scanlan: I have received the petition of Mary Z. Connaughton of the Pioneer Institute appealing the response of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (Office) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 4, 2022, Ms. Connaughton requested the following records: [1] Any prescription drug pricing or value or cost effectiveness model or other methodology employed by EOHHS and/or MassHealth…[;] [2] Any communications between EOHHS or MassHealth and any third party…[;] [3] Any communications between EOHHS or MassHealth and any employee of or contractor to the Health Policy Commission…[;] [4] Any communication to or from EOHHS or MassHealth concerning in any way the use of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs)…[.] Prior Appeal The requested records were the subject of a prior appeal. See SPR22/0429 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (March 7, 2022). In my March 7th determination I found it unclear if the Office provided a response and ordered the Office to provide a response to the requestor. On March 7, 2022, the Office provided a response. The Office provided a further response on May 12, 2022. Unsatisfied with the Office’s responses, Ms. Connaughton petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/1463, was opened as a result. Based upon a conversation between a Public Records Division staff attorney and an Office representative, it is my understanding that the Office intends on providing a subsequent response to Ms. Connaughton. One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832• Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Patricia M. Scanlan SPR22/1463 Page 2 July 6, 2022 Accordingly, the Office is ordered to provide Ms. Connaughton with a response to her request in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations within 10 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Ms. Connaughton may appeal the substantive nature of the Office’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Mary Z. Connaughton