Massachusetts Health Insurance Law Has Achieved Much; Health Care Leaders Need To Boost Cost Controls, Editorial Says

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 10 Apr 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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"While the success of" the Massachusetts health insurance law "is not assured," the state "should be proud of accomplishing so much, so quickly," a Boston Globe editorial states. Health care in the state costs more than some other states, but "in the short term, this cost disparity meant Massachusetts had more money in the system to expand coverage -- notably from a Medicaid waiver by the federal government, which comes up for renewal on July 1," the Globe writes. The editorial adds that supporting the initiative "has been a major achievement" of HHS, and department Secretary Mike Leavitt "ought to approve an extension."

However, "[e]ven with a renewal, unforeseen costs will become a burden," the Globe writes, adding that Gov. Deval Patrick's (D) $869 million budget proposal for next year might be $100 million short of what his administration thinks the program will cost. According to the editorial, "Massachusetts has one great advantage over other states -- the coalition of groups that put the health care package together two years ago." The Globe concludes that the coalition needs to "figure out ways to control costs, maintain quality and get new money into the system when absolutely necessary"; otherwise, the "Massachusetts initiative will fray more quickly" (Boston Globe, 4/8).

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