Last week, I was a panelist at a Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry breakfast. The topic was: Healthcare Reform Has Passed. Does that put us all in the breakdown lane? David Morales, Commissioner of the Division of Health Care Finance & Policy (DHCFP) and George Ellison, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Anna Jaques Hospital, rounded out the panel.
So are we in the breakdown lane? Not yet – but we have to drive carefully. Winter is coming, national health reform is here and the pavement will be slick. Not to overdo the analogy, but the 2006 Massachusetts health plan paved the way for national health care reform. And, as the Bay State now tries to deal with tough cost containment issues, we’re running into potholes.
• The good news is that Massachusetts has the highest rate of health insurance coverage in the country – at 97.5%. (The national average is 83%.)
• The bad news is that Massachusetts' health care costs exceed the national average by 15–27% per person.
• More tough news is that health insurance costs for a family of four now equal that same family’s mortgage payment.
• Better news is that we probably have all the data we need to put the brakes on costs. We just need the political will to do it.
So are we in the breakdown lane? Not yet – but we have to drive carefully. Winter is coming, national health reform is here and the pavement will be slick. Not to overdo the analogy, but the 2006 Massachusetts health plan paved the way for national health care reform. And, as the Bay State now tries to deal with tough cost containment issues, we’re running into potholes.
• The good news is that Massachusetts has the highest rate of health insurance coverage in the country – at 97.5%. (The national average is 83%.)
• The bad news is that Massachusetts' health care costs exceed the national average by 15–27% per person.
• More tough news is that health insurance costs for a family of four now equal that same family’s mortgage payment.
• Better news is that we probably have all the data we need to put the brakes on costs. We just need the political will to do it.
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The event was held at Michael’s Harborside in Newburyport. Here is a view from the deck of the Merrimack River just after sunrise. |
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Commissioner David Morales introducing what DHCFP is all about. |
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| The panelists chat with Delia O'Connor, president of Anna Jaques Hospital. |
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Grabbing coffee before grabbing attention with candid conversation! |
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George Ellison and David Morales. |
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