MassHealth, the cornerstone of health care coverage for more than 2 million people, contributes significantly to the state’s economic strength by drawing billions in federal funding, spurring widespread business activity and supporting a diverse workforce and their families, according to a new report from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation.
In its MassHealth Impact Series, a five-part analysis of the state’s Medicaid program, the Foundation notes that MassHealth brings in more than $8 billion annually in federal funding, an amount that is sevenfold larger than the next source of federal revenue, and that federal dollars cover nearly half the cost of the program. The series of issue briefs also underscore that MassHealth is a critical source of coverage for the low-income workforce, and that the program becomes even more vital in downturns when more people lose their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage.
“MassHealth has a massive impact on the Commonwealth’s economy and its families – more than many people realize,” said Audrey Shelto, President and CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. “As we have seen from the latest economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, MassHealth provides a social safety net for families who lose access to coverage and ensures continuity in their health care.”
The Foundation will share findings from the MassHealth Impact Series during a virtual event on June 30 in recognition of the Foundation’s 20th anniversary. Educating stakeholders and fostering dialogue about MassHealth has been a key strategy of the Foundation since its establishment in 2001 as the private, nonprofit organization that created the framework for the state’s health care reform law.
Providers, MassHealth members, advocates and state leaders, including Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, will discuss MassHealth’s critical role in the state’s model of near-universal health coverage, improving educational outcomes for children, delivering behavioral health care services, and improving health outcomes and reducing recidivism among people involved in the justice system. Speakers will also explore effective policy solutions for promoting equitable access to affordable care.
The MassHealth Impact Series was authored by Manatt Health Strategies and commissioned by the Foundation’s Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute. The complete issue brief series is available online at: https://www.bluecrossmafoundation.org/publication/masshealth-impact-series.
To register for the Foundation’s 20th anniversary virtual event, click here.
About the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation
The mission of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is to expand access to health care for low-income and vulnerable individuals and families in the Commonwealth. The Foundation was established in 2001 with an initial endowment from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. It operates separately from the company and is governed by its own Board of Directors.
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