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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Michael Doonan, PhD, Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, Heller School, 415 South Street, MS 035, Waltham, MA 02454, 781-736-4831, Doonan@brandeis.edu

Massachusetts is in the process of passing the most significant health care reform in the country. The plan seeks to provide coverage to between 90 and 95 percent of the nearly 600,000 uninsured in the state. The proposal features unique aspects with potential for replication in other states or the nation. The plan includes an individual mandate requiring people to purchase insurance coverage if they can afford it, and an employer assessment that will generate revenue to subsidize coverage expansion. This legislation will create a purchasing pool and low cost health plan, which may entail high out-of-pocket costs.

This presentation will examine the political configuration that made health care reform possible. It will outline how this proposal will impact low-income vulnerable populations. Specifically, it will examine enrollment, subsidies, and the impact of cost sharing. Data will be collected through a detailed review of the statute and supporting primary and secondary documentation. Extensive interviews will be conducted with key legislators, their staff, interest groups, and other leaders that were part of the passage and structuring of this initiave.

Learning Objectives: