Massachusetts Health Care Reform
All Massachusetts residents are required to maintain health insurance. Health care reform works to improve the cost and quality of health care. You can see a comprehensive Healthcare Reform .
National Health Care Reform
In March 2010, this country witnessed an historic achievement: the passage of the most important federal health reform since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, or PPACA, will create the biggest expansion of health care coverage, making health insurance accessible to millions of people who currently are uninsured. PPACA also protects individuals from insurance industry discrimination and moves the nation toward health care cost containment, which will enable us to afford expanded access to health insurance. See more information at http://www.mass.gov/nationalhealthreform
The Commonwealth Connector
The Commonwealth Connector is an independent state agency that helps Massachusetts residents find the right health plan and avoid tax penalties. Most Massachusetts adults are now required to have health insurance. The Connector helps determine what that health insurance should cover to meet that requirement. www.mahealthconnector.org
The Health Care Quality and Cost Council
The Health Care Quality and Cost Council, established by Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006, develops and coordinates the implementation of health care quality improvement goals that are intended to lower or contain the growth in health care costs while improving the quality of care, including reductions in racial and ethnic health disparities. www.mass.gov/healthcare
My Health Care Options
MyHealthCareOptions, the Massachusetts Quality and Cost website, is designed to be easy to use and understand and is intended to provide accurate and up-to-date information for consumers. This information comes from state and federal databases as well as other independent and trusted sources. www.mass.gov/myhealthcareoptions
The EOHHS Virtual Gateway
The Virtual Gateway is an internet portal designed to provide the general public, medical providers, community-based organizations and EOHHS staff with online access to health and human services. www.mass.gov/vg
MassHealth
The MassHealth program provides comprehensive health insurance-or help in paying for private health insurance-to more than one million Massachusetts children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. www.mass.gov/MassHealth
Department of Public Health
The Department of Public Health (DPH) serves all the people in the Commonwealth, particularly the under served, and promotes healthy people, healthy families, healthy communities and healthy environments through compassionate care, education and prevention. www.mass.gov/dph
Department of Mental Health
The Department of Mental Health (DMH), as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. http://www.mass.gov/dmh
Division of Insurance
The Division of Insurance (DOI) monitors the solvency of its licensees in order to promote a healthy, responsive and willing marketplace for consumers who purchase insurance products. The DOI provides the public with information regarding various types of insurance. www.mass.gov/doi
Find a Local Hospital or Community Health Center
To find a local hospital please visit the Massachusetts Hospital Association, www.mhalink.org. To find a local community health center, please visit the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, www.massleague.org, for more information.