By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
    September 10, 2025
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    5 Basic Types Of Eye Tests That Are Part Of An Eye Exam
    September 24, 2018
    Knowledge About Malpractice Lawsuits Can Give You Some Peace | Healthcare Career Resources
    Knowledge About Malpractice Lawsuits Can Give You Some Peace
    September 18, 2020
    How Your Job Can Impact Your Health
    December 11, 2018
    Latest News
    Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
    September 9, 2025
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Strong success: Massachusetts Health Reform at 5 Years
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Strong success: Massachusetts Health Reform at 5 Years
Health Reform

Strong success: Massachusetts Health Reform at 5 Years

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Massachusetts’ 5 year old health reform law is the subject of fierce contention on the national stage, since it formed the foundation for the much-debated Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). But within Massachusetts there’s a lot less rancor. Discussion of repeal or defunding is not even on the table despite the challenging budget climate. A new comprehensive chart pack from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation (Assessing the Results) summarizes the law and presents findings on progress. Key takeaways, which are illustrated with extensive charts and graphs include:

  • An increase of 400,000 state residents with insurance coverage, leading to the highest coverage rate in the US, with 98% covered
  • Percent of employers offering coverage rising from 70 to 76% even as subsidized options have increased
  • Moderately high and stable support for reform among consumers, employers, and physicians
  • No real progress on cost containment

The report emphasizes that the groundwork for near-universal coverage had been laid in the years leading up to 2006. That has made a big difference in reform’s success and demonstrates why results in Massachusetts aren’t so easily achievable in the country as a whole. (And although Republican primary voters may or may not buy in to it, it does mean Mitt Romney is not necessarily hypocritical in his support of MA reform and opposition to PPACA.) The key enabling factors for Massachusetts cited in the report include:

  • Low rate of uninsurance. We already had many people covered through employment and a generous, effective Medicaid program
  • An existing funding mechanism to pay facilities to take care of the uninsured, which could be shifted to subsidize insurance coverage
  • A heavily regulated insurance market with guaranteed issue and community rating

I would add some other factors that the report omits. These are elements that the rest of the country could usefully emulate:

  • Strong investment in public education that has led to a well educated workforce that attracts high-wage employers willing and able to provide health insurance. It’s a lot easier for an employer to afford $10,000 of health insurance for a worker making $100,000 than for one making $20,000
  • A spirit of collaboration among key stakeholders –employers, providers, consumers, health plans– who worked toward a solution everyone could agree to, and accepted the need for compromise
  • A willingness of Democrats and Republicans to work together on a key issue for the state

As the document notes, Massachusetts health reform did not tackle cost containment. That’s hardly surprising because it wasn’t designed to do so. I’m cautiously optimistic that Massachusetts is now ready to tackle the cost problem. Now that almost everyone has health insurance, there’s a willingness to address the affordability challenge in order to preserve what has been achieved. I would argue that tackling costs on a serious scale requires near-universal coverage to be in place. That’s a lesson the country as a whole may have to learn, too, and so I’m a lot less optimistic about cost containment at the national level than I am in Massachusetts.

More Read

What are the Protections for Mentally Ill People Under the American with Disabilities Act?
Left to Our Own Devices
5 Reasons You Might Want To Try Full Spectrum CBD Oil
Innovating Healthcare System Strategy: Creating the Commercial ACO
Providing High-Quality Health Care to Americans Should Trump Politics
TAGGED:health care reformMassachusetts
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

CCBHCs
BusinessFinanceGlobal HealthcareHealth ReformHospital AdministrationPublic HealthWellness

2016 Excellence in Behavioral Health Program Design

February 23, 2016

Millionaire Retirees

May 16, 2011

Vermont Legislature Gets Closer to Single Payer Care Delivery

April 28, 2011

Health Care Questions for the Presidential Debate

October 2, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?