This issue brief looks at the terms and conditions of the MassHealth Waiver, approved in July 2006, that will run through FY 2008. The July 2006 Waiver approval incorporates the provisions of the health reform law, which enacted some of the changes required in the initial approval of this Waiver renewal, in January 2005. MMPI produced an analysis of the initial approval last year; this brief updates the earlier one to reflect the terms of the Waiver as they now stand.

The federal Deficit Reduction Act enacted provisions designed to reduce federal Medicaid spending by nearly $5 billion over the next five years. This fact sheet examines two of these provisions in detail and discusses their implications for MassHealth members, administrators and providers.

An examination of how to define affordability relative to the enforcement of the individual mandate requirement of the 2006 health reform law.

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)

A 10-page summary of Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006, otherwise known as the Massachusetts Health Reform Law.

This report from MMPI and the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center looks at Medicaid spending in relation not only to total public spending, but also to state revenues and overall economic growth. It concludes that, between Fiscal Years 1994 and 2005, Medicaid spending changed very little in relation to the economy as a whole, and therefore was sustainable given the economic growth over that same period. Looking at Medicaid spending with this broader view provides a new context for policy makers as they think about the Medicaid budget, now and in the future.

This issue brief reviews the concept of budget neutrality and, within its constraints, the options available to maximize federal dollars for coverage of the uninsured.

Implementation policy brief.

Implementation policy brief.

Implementation policy brief.

In 2003, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation launched a multi-year policy initiative to study the options for expanding coverage to the uninsured in Massachusetts. The “Roadmap to Coverage” initiative aimed to develop concrete solutions for covering the uninsured and to constructively engage stakeholders in the policy debate. With the release of each Roadmap report, the Foundation convened health care, business, labor, and government leaders to examine and discuss the ideas presented.

An overview of the steps that would need to be taken to successfully implement the Roadmap coverage expansion options and the sequence and timeframe for completing them.

Implementation policy brief.

Implementation policy brief.

Implementation policy brief.