Table of Contents
Introduction
Massachusetts healthcare reform bill was passed in 2006 and it demonstrates an advanced approach to healthcare reform in the U.S. The reform bill-which is on Chapter 58 of the Massachusetts Laws of 2006-has four key objectives. The first objective is to use an individual mandate to extend access to near ecumenical levels, while the second is to institute a road map for proprietors' 'fair share' contribution and participation. The other two objectives are: to restructure insurance markets and superintend the distribution and subsidization of various insurance plans by the new Massachusetts "Connector"; and to show transparency that will help in realizing and measuring the cost and quality of care of the bill.
History of Massachusetts Healthcare System
Back in November 2004, politicians began pushing for major amendments to the Massachusetts health care insurance system to extend its coverage. Initially, Robert Travaglini, the Senate President, demanded a plan to cut down the number of uninsured Massachusetts by 50%. Attention revolved about the House when Salvatore DiMasi, Massachusetts House Speaker, gave a speech at a Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Roadmap to Coverage forum a year after, and promised to pass a bill through Massachusetts House by the adjournment of the session (Niles, 2011). At the forum, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation provided various reports on reform recommendations that all incorporated an individual mandate. By the end of November 2005, the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing ratified a reform recommendation that Patricia Walrath (the Committees co-chair) and House Speaker DiMasi, among other House members had crafted (Congressional Record, Page 14387).
Massachusetts Healthcare System is also known as an "Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care" that is legislated in Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006 of the Massachusetts General Court. Late 2006, early 2007, and late 2007, some bills were ratified to amended and make technical rectifications to the statute, particularly Chapters 324 and 450 of the Acts (2006), and chapter 205 of the Acts of 2007 (Congressional Record, Page 14387). By the end of 2009, 5,473,000 people had been insured, exclusive of the number of people enrolled in Medicare. Depending upon the growth of population, approximately 4% of the population is presently uninsured, probably because of lack of health insurance (Niles, 2011). Most uninsured Massachusetts occupants commonly make use of emergency rooms as a foundation of primary care.
Current state of the Massachusetts Healthcare System
Health care system in the state of Massachusetts is a vital element of the economy of the state and it is the top industry in the industry. This is because, health care is the largest employer for residents in the state of Massachusetts; accounting for more than 13% of the state's Gross State Product (GSP), which is about $365 billion (Andersen, Rice & Kominski, 2007). According to the Commonwealth Fund, Massachusetts is amongst the top-ranked states in terms of health care access, coming seventh generally on the health system performance that is measured by the State Scorecard. Health care system in Massachusetts has many distinct characteristics making it unique to the rest of the country. This also contributes to the state's high health care costs.
Health care system in the state of Massachusetts is defined by a numerous highly experts who are medical personnel; and a strong-felt presence of academic medical centers. The state of Massachusetts has a comparatively high ratio of physicians to population in the United States and a higher ratio of specialists compared to any other state, even following control for interns, state occupants, fellows, and research workers. However, Massachusetts is struggling with ever-increasing health care costs that are consuming a greater percentage of the economy (Andersen, Rice & Kominski, 2007).