[medinformatics] Massachusetts lawmakers approve brave new health plan

[Medical Informatics News]

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has managed to annoy several business owners by approving a health plan that protects health coverage of all its citizens. The health plan requires business owners to pay into a state-wide health insurance fund if they do not provide health coverage to their employees. Governer Mitt Romney opposes the tax on businesses, but the House has enough votes to overturn a veto.The state Senate's plan is slightly more forgiving: businesses that don't provide health care must pay health costs for employees who take advantage of a state-provided plan. Romney is urging lawmakers to come to a concrete agreement by January to be elegible for federal funding.The state will take advantage of a $255 million dollar per year tobacco settlement fund in order to make sure that health insurance is provided. Citizens who can afford to provide their own insurance, even if employers don't, are required to provide it; however, the state Medicaid program is being expanded to make sure that disadvantaged citizens have more equal access to health coverage. Perhaps other states will follow their bold example.*ReadPermalink*|*Email this*|*Linking*Blogs*|*Comments









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