Part 2: The Basic Concept What are the main goals of the coalitions proposal?
• expanded access to health care coverage • reduce growth rate in health care costs • improve quality of health care The bill builds on the current Massachusetts health care system, and requires minimal disruption of existing arrangements. Passage of the bill would lead to affordable access to quality coverage for most residents of the Commonwealth. It approaches universal coverage, but we do not claim everyone would get covered. According to the researchers working with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Roadmap Project, the benefits of covering the uninsured would exceed the cost by a ratio of 3 to 1. These are our principles: • MassHealth coverage must expand to cover more low-income people • Employers have a responsibility to contribute to the health care needs of their employees • Through intelligent targeting of assistance to small businesses and individuals, government can make health coverage affordable • Hospitals, doctors and other providers deserve fair payments from the
