However from a long-range perspective, I am wondering if these actions will be sufficient. Specifically I am thinking of a presentation that was made in 2007 by Henry Aaron of the Brookings Institute. In this presentation he makes a case for the point of view that a projected national budget deficit of approximately 9% of GDP will be entirely driven by health expenditures. (I am guessing you have seen it, but if not one source is http://www.sharedprosperity.org/av/070412/20070412-aaron.swf ) If he is anywhere near correct, it is difficult to imagine that future generations would be able or willing to tolerate a continuation of our current policies and delivery system structure.

If not currently underway, perhaps Massachusetts healthcare leaders will at some point initiate a cooperative insurer-provider-purchaser exploration of innovative alternative delivery / financing models that achieve breakthrough reductions in the cost of healthcare.