title: The third wave of Massachusetts health care access reform.
abstract: In April 2006, Massachusetts passed its third major health care access reform law since 1988. This law establishes new structures and requirements that have never been attempted by any state. Key features include a shift of federal Medicaid dollars from institutional support to individual insurance subsidies, establishment of an insurance "Connector," individual and employer responsibility, a small-firm and individual insurance market merger, and provisions to address racial and ethnic health disparities. Massachusetts will engage in a multiyear implementation process. Only after this process is complete will the law's significance be clear.
authors.affiliation: Health Care For All, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. mcdonough@hcfama.org
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: McDonough
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosman
authors.forename: Fawn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Phelps
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shannon
mesh_terms: D006264:Health Benefit Plans, Employee / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000639:trends; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D008484:Medicaid / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D008489:Medical Indigency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends