Maximizing the Use of Federal Matching Funds to Help Finance Universal Coverage
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In 2005, Massachusetts renegotiated with the federal government major provisions of the State’s Medicaid program governed by the MassHealth Waiver, which has been in effect since 1997. The new terms of the Waiver, which became effective July 1, 2005, are significantly different from the current terms, particularly in the details of how the program is financed. This issue brief describes the most significant changes in the Waiver agreement and identifies the major issues involved with state implementation.
This report provides new perspectives about the importance of MassHealth for the state's business community and, in particular, explains how a strong MassHealth program benefits employers. MassHealth is a major source of health insurance for low-wage workers, covering more than 400,000 employed people and their families. It is a major reason why Massachusetts has a relatively low percentage of people without insurance, and program expansions have helped reduce the costs of uncompensated care, which is financed in part by the business community.
An examination of how to pay for near-univeral health insurance in Massachusetts and the policy options available.
This chartbook is a tool to broaden our understanding of the more than half a million people who lack health coverage in Massachusetts, and support the development of policies to help them.
An examination of the costs of providing care for uninsured Massachusetts residents.