Last Friday’s Globe had a letter to the editor from BI/Deaconess’ Dr. Richard Parker concluding: “… I am waiting for some straight talk on the numbers.” Reasonable question — wonder why the mainstream media has not added light to this. Healthy Blog puts out the numbers as we understand them (hope this prints out OK — forgive the mess if it occurs):

Major question from Dr. Parker — how does the $295 employer assessment pay for this big health reform package. Answer — it doesn’t. It’s a small part of a large package and the major source of money each year is federal.

Bigger question — how does this hold up? Our sense — passes the laugh test, plausible and tight. Likely to turn out as planned? Not likely — prepare for surprises, pleasant and unpleasant. That’s life in this territory. What’s important now — strong commitment by House and Senate leaders to make it work — real political commitment to meet the promises outlined in the soon-to-be new law. Up to all of us to hold them to it.