Category Archives: Health Care Politics

The intersection of health policy and politics, MA and US

Massachusetts: Best Friends of the Court

As the nation awaits the fate of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) slated to go before the United States Supreme Court late next month, Attorney General Martha Coakley jump-started the debate with a recent trip to Washington. On Thursday, … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics, MA Health Reform, National Health Reform | 1 Comment

The Task of Massachusetts: Spreading the Word About Reform

WaPo Wonkblog’s Sarah Kliff found this group of questions about chapter 58 included the latest Harris poll on health reform attitudes. The poll itself found modest increases in public support for the components of the ACA, with the exception of … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics, MA Health Reform, National Health Reform | 1 Comment

Thanks, Barney

Barney Frank was and is a fierce defender of health care. Losing his voice in Congress will leave a big hole. I’ve followed Barney’s career since working in Congress with a close colleague of his in the early 80s, and … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics | 1 Comment

Individual Mandate Repeal Initiative Fail

The proposed initiative to repeal the individual mandate as part of the 2006 Massachusetts health reform law has failed to gather sufficient signatures to get a place on the ballot next year. In an email to supporters yesterday, the “Massachusetts … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics, MA Health Reform | 1 Comment

Blue Cross / Tufts Medical Center Impasse – Who’s Looking Out for the Patients?

Today’s announcement that Tufts Medical Center and its physicians at the New England Quality Care Alliance (NEQCA), and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts hit a contracting impasse (see coverage from WBUR, and this personal story, and the Globe story), … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics, Private Market | 3 Comments

The Final Word (yeah, right) on Romney and Health Coverage for Undocumented Immigrants

The truth-telling FactCheck.org actually talked to Massachusetts health policy people, and comes up with the definitive last word on the charge that in signing chapter 58, Governor Romney initiated a program that provides “free health care to illegals.” The verdict: … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics | 1 Comment

And now, a time out from the circus:

While the Obamacare/Romneycare circus continues to spin out of control, how about a reasoned, knowledgeable discussion of the contrasts and similarities by two people who know what they are talking about? The video above comes from MassINC and their CommonWealth … Continue reading

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More Circus Antics Around Romney and Massachusetts Health Care (video update at bottom)

With former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney seeking the Republican Presidential nomination, his record is under the microscope by his opponents and the press. Unfortunately, most of the muck being heaped on our universal health care law is misguided or incomplete, … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics, MA Health Reform | 2 Comments

MA Health Reform Frightful In Rick Perry Campaign Ad

We really like Gawker’s take on the new Rick Perry ObamaCare/RomneyCare spot: Rick Perry Documents the Horror of Giving People Medical Care Rick Perry … has released his latest, scariest opus, just in time for Satan’s birthday, Halloween. It goes … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Humor, Health Care Politics, MA Health Reform | 1 Comment

Protecting Medicaid

The LA Times and the Politico’s tick-tocks on the final stages of the debt ceiling deal have this great detail: Late Saturday, a new demand from Republican negotiators stunned White House officials. In a conference call with senior administration aides, … Continue reading

Posted in Health Care Politics, MassHealth/Medicaid | Leave a comment