Following are reactions to the Massachusetts legislation mandating near-universal health insurance coverage. We welcome your comments as well!
"The state government in Massachusetts accomplished what Washington too often only talks about--providing insurance for a bulk of the uninsured in that state. They did it by bringing together key leaders from government, business, advocacy groups, payers and providers to agree on a proposition that smooths out the burden among these groups. What a refreshing example of government leading."
--Richard L. Clarke, DHA, FHFMA, president and CEO, HFMA
"Two things stand out for me in this legislation. One is the political accomplishment of getting this compromise among different stakeholders with different ideologies. The other is the very important and somewhat untested approach of requiring individuals to have health insurance coverage. At a time when government resources are stretched thin, this is likely to be a critical component in getting substantial coverage. This approach allows government coverage to go further."
--Paul B. Ginsburg, PhD, president, Center for Studying Health System Change
“Governor Romney and the Massachusetts Legislature have come together to develop a bipartisan approach to address the issue of access to affordable health insurance. The legislation is a path-breaking attempt to apportion responsibility for expanding access among all stakeholders. Policymakers left many of the details of implementing the new law to the regulatory process. We will be working with our members to help create the environment necessary for this legislation to succeed, including sufficient flexibility to develop quality products at an affordable cost."
--Karen Ignagni, president and CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans
“If the Governor signs this bill, it would place Massachusetts at or near the top of the class in providing affordable coverage for the uninsured. Today’s compromise sets a number of important precedents for Massachusetts residents that are truly historic from a national perspective. In the end, this bill offers a laudable mixture of public and private solutions to achieve the goal of affordable health care coverage for workers and small businesses."
--Ron Pollack, executive director, Families USA
"This bill is good for our economy, good for the uninsured, and good for our health care system. Covering the uninsured eliminates hidden costs in everyone's insurance premium. The provisions to improve the quality of care will save costs and improve health."
--Phil Edmundson, president and CEO, William Gallagher Associates, and Chairman, Affordable Care Today
"It is not a typical Massachusetts-Taxachusetts, oh-just-crazy-liberal plan. It isn't that at all. It is a pretty moderate approach, and that's what's impressive about it. It tried to borrow and blend a lot of different pieces."
--Stuart H. Altman, PhD, professor of health policy, Brandeis University, quoted in The New York Times.
"I don't think we've seen any other state where virtually every Democrat and Republican voted for a measure of this sort."
--Richard Cauchi, health analyst, National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver, quoted on Bloomberg.com.
Updated Thursday, April 6
