Massachusetts` Health Care For All Coming With Costs
By: Tommy Elder, Jr.
Massachusetts` Health Care for most of the masses now must meet its spiraling cost. Kevin Sack of the New York Times reports that inspite of the large enrollment and the sputtering economy- ``the health plan`s jittery finances have stabilized for the moment.`` Experts warn, however, that the program`s financial stability will probable plunge in the next five to ten years if the system`s managers do not locate means for stoping the accelerating ``spending.``
Some planners contend that cost containment can come about with a revised means of payment that ``rewards prevention and effectively controls ``chronic disease.`` This spring a study commission will recommend to state leaders that Massachusetts adopt such a plan.
Before Massachusetts can adopt this system- it must obtain Federal consent to modify Medicaid (the federal-state health financial assistance program) and the okay of Washington to change the national program i.e. Medicare. One option that Massachusetts` Governor Duval Patrick wants to pursue entails finding out from Washington `whether the state could regulate insurance premiums.``
By Massachusetts policy ``almost every resident (must) have health insurance, and that all but the smallest businesses (must) make some contribution toward their employees` costs.`` Failure to comply could result in a fine of as much as $ 1,068 in 2009.