With many Democrats and Republicans concerned that healthcare reform cannot wait much longer, both parties are viewing Massachusetts’ universal health coverage law as model legislation for individual states and also the nation, reports The Boston Globe. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass), the new chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, said he will propose his state’s reform program as a national model, and Senators Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) also said they were interested in exploring aspects of the Massachusetts plan, which mandates that all residents have health insurance and that all employers contribute to coverage.
Two dozen states are also considering universal coverage proposals, even though the cost may be significantly higher in states with more uninsured people than Massachusetts. Timothy R. Murphy, Massachusetts secretary for health and human services, has talked about his state’s plan to officials in Minnesota, California, Missouri, and Texas, and has received numerous requests from other states.
