Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Patrick weighs in on health care plans

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Hey folks, looks like we have a governor again. Nice to have a little hands-on involvement in the process of making new “affordable” health care plans:

At a State House press conference Monday, Patrick said: “I’m worried, based on the affordability sessions that I’ve been to, that $400 for someone who is at 300 percent of the poverty level may not be affordable.”

Merely hearing our Governor state the obvious is like a breath of fresh air, isn’t it?

John McDonough’s sees the Connector’s role evolving — I’d say in a positive way:

There’s a shift afoot here for those paying attention. When the health reform law passed, some asked whether the Connector would act as simply a “bid taker” or as a “price negotiator.” Seems the original inclination of the Connector staff was to act as the former. Events over the past week have pushed them firmly into the latter role.

Yup. If the state is mandating that people carry that insurance, it damn well has an interest in making sure it’s a quality, affordable product.

Also, don’t miss Beth Israel/Deaconess CEO Paul Levy’s comment on that post:

Something I don’t know, and maybe someone can comment: What incentive do the insurers have to negotiate? If they truly believe that the actuarial context demands a higher rate and/or lower benefits – or if they have other reasons to hold out – what can the Connector do to be persuasive?

I don’t know if it’s at all feasible, but I’d be interested in seeing the state offer its own, competing health insurance product. On a national level, “Medicare for All” is being floated; why not open access to MassHealth? There are some instances of virtuous public vs. private competition: student loans, for instance. Why not have the state step into the market?

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Comments

  1. corporations won’t provide affordable health care?

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    Just as this state has an interest in providing clean, potable water to every citizen, and in required every restaurant maintain proper cleanliness, it has an interest in offering health insurance so that poor people are forced to wait until their illness requires an emergency room visit.  Low wage workers & the middle class who don’t have health insurance are still vital sources of productivity in the Massachusetts economy… and the economy suffers when illness keeps them at home.

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    That’s just an economic argument.  Personally, I think available health insurance for every is more a matter of basic human dignity.  If everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, how much liberty does one have while sick in bed?

  2. but I’d be interested in seeing the state offer its own, competing health insurance product. On a national level, “Medicare for All” is being floated; why not open access to MassHealth?

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    This is in the works and you can help support it! Grace Ross is working with Senator Steve Tolman to file a bill opening up MassHealth for anyone to enroll/buy in. (fyi it’s what should have been done in last year’s reform instead of creating the Chapter 58 law’s expensive/wasteful private market bureacracy to extend coverage to more poor people in the state.).

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    A related reform proposal was discussed at a recent health care community meeting when a leader from the Mass. Nurses Association put forth a parallel idea of filing a bill to create an enrollment/ buy in option for the state’s GIC plan (Group Insurance Commission) that provides coverage to legislators and other state employees.

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    Senator Tolman really understands the imperative to tackle cost control issues if we as a state are to succeed in greatly expanding sustainable quality coverage.  Tolman is the lead sponsor of the MassCare Health Care Trust bill that would in effect establish an improved Medicare for All program in the state. And Congressman Conyers has re-filed HR 676 to create an improved Medicare for All program for the nation. The volunteer-led group HealthCare-Now is doing some awesome work to educate and mobilize voter support for HR 676 around the country (6 out of our 8 MA Congressman have signed on to HR 676!)

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    Economist and TAP founder and editor Robert Kuttner has been a long-time articulate advocate for this approach to health reform.  If you haven’t read his Op-Ed from last Sat. you should; here it is: Health Insurance Dilemma The last line contains a crucial take home message if we are ever to make meaningful progress on needed health system reform:

    Reformers seeking universal coverage should recognize that the private insurance industry is less a credible partner than the prime obstacle.

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