[20060526]RS22447_马萨诸塞州医疗改革计划：简要概述.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS22447May 26, 2006The Massachusetts Health Reform Plan: A Brief Overviewname redactedAnalyst in Social LegislationDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryIn April 2006, Massachusetts passed legislation that aims to achieve near-universalhealth insurance coverage by expanding Medicaid and State Childrens Health InsuranceProgram (SCHIP) eligibility, providing premium subsidies for certain individuals, andmandating the purchase of insurance for those who can afford it. To make private healthinsurance plans more affordable and accessible, it modifies state insurance laws (e.g.,it merges the states non-group and small group markets) and creates a public entitycalled the Connector to serve as a clearinghouse for the purchase of insurance by smallemployers and individuals who are not offered subsidized insurance by a large employer.To pay for the legislation, the state will redirect some existing Medicaid funds thatare used to reimburse health care providers (primarily hospitals) for treating uninsuredand other patients who generate uncompensated care costs. It will also obta