1. What, in your opinion, was the catalyst for Massachusetts taking such extraordinary legislative and regulatory measures to try and get all Massachusetts residents insured?
SENATOR MOORE: There were several factors that prompted the Legislature to tackle health care reform. First, Read more…
The second of two parts…
Causes of the Problem
Massachusetts’ c. 58 law included no meaningful cost controls. Instead, responding to political pressure, it actually increased spending in several ways. It boosts hospitals’ Medicaid payments over three years by some $500 million, half for costly, generally profitable teaching hospitals. Read more…
The first of two parts…
The new Massachusetts c. 58 law is a big, genuine step forward—especially for people with the lowest incomes. But this law does not provide enough revenue to finance or subsidize solid coverage for everyone who lacks it. That’s why dozens of thousands of people have been exempted from having to buy coverage and will remain uninsured. And it’s why many families will have to buy coverage that’s both expensive and flimsy—so flimsy that they will be exposed to out-of-pocket costs of up to $10,000 yearly.
These problems will worsen in the years ahead because Massachusetts has the world’s costliest health care, because the cost of business-as-usual health care grows faster than the revenue available, and because realistic cost controls are not yet even under discussion.
By making health insurance coverage for all a state responsibility, c. 58 highlights the need for genuine cost control. That will require real change, not minor adjustments. Read more…