Information about the law's implementation, including the creation of the Massachusetts Health Connector; major policy decisions; and outreach, enrollment, and marketing initiatives.
Overview of implementation
Massachusetts Health Reform: A Five-Year Progress Report
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation report by Alan G. Raymond on the first five years of Massachusetts health reform implementation, including comprehensive assessments of how the law is working, impacts on coverage and access to care, and cost and funding. (November 2011) View Alan G. Raymond's May 2007 Massachusetts health reform implementation progress report here.
Updates on Health Reform Implementation: Reports to the Massachusetts Legislature
Progress reports on health reform issued every two months from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health of Health and Human Services to leaders of the House and Senate, covering activities of all state agencies involved in implementation. (June 2006 to March 2009)
Massachusetts Health Care Reform 2011 Progress Report
Massachusetts Health Connector report on health care reform implementation in 2011. View other Connector reports, including their more detailed 2011 Report to the Massachusetts Legislature, here. (November 2011)
The Basics of MassHealth
Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute report by Robert W. Seifert on the role that MassHealth, the state's combined Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program, plays in Massachusetts health reform. (February 2011)
Health Care Reform Implementation
Presentation by Robin Callahan, Massachusetts Office of Medicaid, at a January 2010 forum sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives program. View other presentations from this forum here.
Implementing Health Care Reform In Massachusetts: Strategic Lessons Learned
John Kingsdale, executive director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, discusses the importance of using a sequence of changes when implementing health reform. By sequencing events, government has the appropriate amount of time to implement changes and ensure smooth transitions to new programs. Kingsdale also discusses Massachusetts' decision to extend universal coverage before handling issue around cost containment and the current debate on how best to address issue of cost control (abstract only). (July 2009)
Implementation decisions and actions
The Massachusetts Health Connector: Structure and Functions
Commonwealth Fund report by Amy Lischko, Sara Bachman, and Alyssa Vangeli on the workings of the Massachusetts Health Connector. (May 2009)
Key Policy Decisions by the Massachusetts Health Connector
Information on policy decisions that are the responsibility of the Massachusetts Health Connector Board under Massachusetts health reform, including standards for benefits, affordability and subsidized care.
Massachusetts Health Connector Board Meetings
Agendas, minutes and presentation materials from the Massachusetts Health Connector's public Board meetings, starting in January 2007.
Impact of Merging the Massachusetts Non-Group and Small Group Health Insurance Markets
Massachusetts Division of Insurance report estimating how the merger of individual and small group health insurance markets under Massachusetts health reform would affect future premium increases. (December 2006)
Individual Mandate: Frequently Asked Questions
Massachusetts Department of Revenue website with FAQs on the requirement under Massachusetts health reform for individuals to obtain health insurance coverage if an affordable plan is available to them.
Setting a Standard of Affordability for Health Insurance Coverage in Massachusetts
BCBS of Massachusetts Foundation report by the Urban Institute on how to define “affordability” under the Massachusetts law's requirement for individuals to maintain coverage if an affordable option is available. (August 2006)
Evidence on Affordability From Consumer Expenditures and Employee Enrollment in Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance
Report by MIT economist Jonathan Gruber examining what should be considered “affordable” health insurance under the individual mandate in Massachusetts health reform. (March 2007)
Employer Fair Share Contribution
Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development website provides general information, regulations, and references regarding employer obligations under Massachusetts health reform.
An Analysis of the Essential Role of Employers in Massachusetts Health Care Reform
Report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation explaining employers' roles and responsibilities under Massachusetts health care reform.
Outreach, enrollment and marketing
Ensuring the Success of Massachusetts Health Care Reform: What Is Needed For Front Line Staff?
BCBS of Massachusetts Foundation report based on a Community Partners' survey on the training, tools, and resources front line staff at hospitals, community health centers, and other community-based organizations would need to implement Massachusetts health reform. (July 2006)
Massachusetts Virtual Gateway
Presentation by Howard Caplan of MassHealth describing the Web portal that hospitals, community health centers, and other facilities use to submit applications on behalf of clients for Massachusetts' public health insurance programs.
Massachusetts Virtual Gateway Resources
State website with links to all the health and human services s available to consumers, providers, and government agencies through the Virtual Gateway.
Massachusetts Health Reform Outreach and Enrollment
State website with information, evaluations, and reports on health care reform outreach and enrollment activities, grants, and grantees.
Massachusetts Community Health Workers: Lessons from the Field
State-produced video documentary on outreach and enrollment for MassHealth and Commonwealth Care.
2009 Year-End Report for Connecting Consumers with Care
BCBS of Massachusetts Foundation summary of outreach and enrollment initiatives by grant recipients that help uninsured and low-income residents gain access to coverage and care.
The Massachusetts Health Connector's Public Education Campaign
Presentation by Joan Fallon, Chief Communication Officer of the Massachusetts Health Connector, at a January 2010 forum sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's State Coverage Initiatives program. View other presentations from this forum here.
The Massachusetts Health Connector's TV and radio advertising
Red Sox/NESN Public Service Announcements
The Massachusetts Health Connector's YouTube videos
Promotional tool for the state's Young Adult Plans.
The Massachusetts Health Connector's Facebook page
Social networking platform that includes the state's health reform TV ads.