Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The Third Wave Of Massachusetts Health Care Access Reform

2006; Project HOPE; Volume: 25; Issue: Suppl1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1377/hlthaff.25.w420

2694-233X

John E. McDonough, Brian Rosman, Fawn Phelps, Melissa Shannon,

Healthcare innovation and challenges

In April 2006, Massachusetts passed its third major health care access reform law since 1988. This law establishes new structures and requirements that have never been attempted by any state. Key features include a shift of federal Medicaid dollars from institutional support to individual insurance subsidies, establishment of an insurance "Connector," individual and employer responsibility, a small-firm and individual insurance market merger, and provisions to address racial and ethnic health disparities. Massachusetts will engage in a multiyear implementation process. Only after this process is complete will the law's significance be clear.