By JudyAnn Bigby, M.D.
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.
The federal bill is built on the Massachusetts model, building on the Commonwealth Connector Authority as a model for insurance exchanges and expanding the Commonwealth's concept of shared responsibility by calling for an individual mandate, employer responsibility, and government subsidies for low-income individuals nationwide. The Patrick-Murray Administration strongly supported the passage of national health reform, not only because it's the right thing to do for our nation, but because it will bring benefits to Massachusetts residents and taxpayers.
PPACA provides an opportunity to address many important areas of health care, including prevention and wellness, expanded access, insurance reform, and approaches to integrating care.
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services created this page to keep you informed about what PPACA will mean for residents of the Commonwealth, whether you are a provider, small and large employer, or health care advocate, or consumer. I hope that this page and its links will be a helpful resource for understanding what this historic act means for us all.
This information is provided by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services.