Federal cuts threaten state’s health reform
A report this month by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center says this fiscal year one in
"
The biggest chunk of the nearly
A repeal of the ACA or a change in how MassHealth is funded "would shift costs from the federal government on to state government," Berger said.
The state would likely respond to the loss of a billion or more dollars by reducing the number of people getting benefits or cutting benefits, Berger said.
"This is something I've been thinking about since
Berger said a repeal of the ACA would cost
Currently, MassHealth is an entitlement program, meaning that anyone who qualifies by income and circumstances is entitled to enroll in the government-subsidized insurance program, with the cost generally being split 50/50 between the state and federal governments.
Politicians in D.C. are discussing whether to convert
Both the block grant and per capita cap models "could reduce federal
Although the block grant or per capita cap could give states more flexibility in running their
They could limit states' ability to respond to demands for
The implication for the Cape's federally qualified, nonprofit health centers "is huge," said
While 44 percent of the
Officials at the state level also are struggling with the costs associated with MassHealth, which takes up 40 percent of the state budget.
Expanded under
Currently, 1.9 million
Baker recently came up with proposals to rein in MassHealth costs, including a plan to penalize businesses with 11 or more employees that don't offer health insurance
The proposal hit "like a lead balloon," Peake said. "I don't think that's the answer."
An artist, Brynildsen said he dropped his health insurance during a downturn in his business because it came down to a choice between paying his premium or his mortgage.
When
It was just in time, Brynildsen said. He said he went for a colonoscopy to check out the source of some discomfort and bleeding and found he had stage III colon cancer, requiring surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
"My feeling is it's a disgrace for this country, the strongest country in the world ... not to have a national health program for all its citizens," said Brynildsen, who is on dialysis because his kidneys were compromised by his cancer treatment.
Cuts in the flow of federal funds could also affect highway projects in
State Rep.
"We'll manage through whatever challenges might come up, just as all the other states will," Hunt said in an email.
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