We were pleased to see most of the Boston Herald editorial last week, which opened with, “These numbers don’t lie. The state’s mandated health insurance law is working. Figures released this week by the state’s Division of Health Care Finance and Policy prove it.”
Of course, the Herald went on to question the proposed regulatory change to the employer fair share regulations.
In a letter in yesterday’s Boston Herald, Patrick administration Administration and Finance Secretary Leslie Kirwan and Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. JudyAnn Bigby reaffirm their support for adjusting the “fair and reasonable” definition:
As noted in your editorial (“Health care law gets good start,” Aug. 21), health-care reform is working, with nearly a half million people newly insured. With this success come challenges, however, and the state budget is being strained as strong enrollment has driven up costs for health coverage.
We recognize and appreciate employers’ role in expanding private insurance. But just as many employers have stepped up in this regard, and consumers are paying more for state health coverage, we are asking providers, health plans and businesses that have not done their fair share to do so. Otherwise, we are faced with imposing additional burdens on individual taxpayers or depleting our state’s rainy day reserves. Along with cost containment initiatives, shared responsibility will enable us to achieve the full promise of health care reform.
