PBS' 'NewsHour' Examines Effects Of Massachusetts Health Insurance Law Two Years After Enactment

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 01 May 2008 - 9:00 PDT

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PBS' "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" on Monday reported on how the Massachusetts health insurance law has affected the state's fiscal situation and uninsurance rates. According to "NewsHour," since the law was enacted about two years ago, higher-than-expected enrollment and costs "have made Massachusetts a real-life Rorschach test about attitudes toward health reform at the state and national levels."

The state predicts the program will cost about 10% more than previously estimated for the next fiscal year, creating a revenue gap of about $150 million. Gov. Deval Patrick (D) said, "There are 300,000 adults and children who were uninsured just a year ago who are insured today and have access to quality primary care, and that's great news." He added, "I would say that the enrollment has happened faster than was projected, which is good news but also created some financial challenges for us."

The segment also includes comments from Michael Tanner, director of health and welfare studies at the Cato Institute; John McDonough, executive director of Health Care for All; Lori Abrams Berry, executive director of the Lynn Community Health Center; Jon Kingsdale, executive director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector; and Massachusetts residents (Dentzer, "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," PBS, 4/28).

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