Last Monday, May 14th the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum and the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute co-sponsored a forum, “Massachusetts Health Reform: Progress, Prognosis and Possibility” with Governor Patrick, Secretary Bigby, Speaker of the House DiMasi, Senate President Murray, and Jon Kingsdale among others. According to them the progress is great, the prognosis is good and the possibility unlimited. However, the troubling take home message was that the success of Massachusetts Health Reform is all dependent on the Commonwealth having a citizenry of “educated consumers” like Syms, designer names for less. Read more…

Is Massachusetts health reform the American Idol of other states? Will we be sent back to the drawing board? Will Commonwealth Care be affordable? Will we achieve real health reform? Cast your vote on the CommonHealth Blog.

Reading the various entries of my co-contributors this past month I’d say the jury is still out but it’s not looking good. Here are some quotes from some recent entries:
“Unfortunately, it gives people access to the same health care system that is accused of being too costly, to have variable quality, be inefficient, unfriendly, and inaccessible… We need to review and reconsider a single payer system and determine whether administrative simplification has the merits promised.” – Carl A. Soderland, M.D.
“Massachusetts has been the first state to take on the issue of covering the uninsured. Could we also lead the way in taking on the challenge of making healthcare more affordable?” – Christina Severin
Lots of folks look at Chapter 58 and say, “ugliest piece of s___ I ever done seen!” Others look and say, “Not too shabby. We could have done worse. Let’s figure out how to use it the best we can, and then figure out next steps.” – John McDonough Read more…

Massachusetts’ government, business, labor and health care leadership is faced with the awesome challenge of implementing health insurance coverage for all of Massachusetts’ citizens under CHAPTER 58, AN ACT PROVIDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY, ACCOUNTABLE HEALTH CARE. Approaching the year one anniversary of Massachusetts “health reform”, by all accounts, including the expert contributors to this blog, we are doing an exemplary job. However the questions of costs to individuals and small business, the amount of deductibles and co-pays, the proposals for the benefits package, and the debate of whether to cover prescription drugs or not, is all about affordability! And that’s what it has been about since the beginning of my career in the 70’s in the days of comprehensive health planning and every effort at reform since then. The real challenge for the Connector is how to use this opportunity and their authority to get improved quality and increased accountability in health care? Read more…