Obamacare Works, Massachusetts Proves It

[IronLionZion]

Massachusetts' health care reform in 2006 resulted in greater coverage and lower death rates, which has positive implications for the Affordable Care Act

Four years after Massachusetts underwent a major health reform, death rates in the state dropped.



In 2006, the state of Massachusetts expanded Medicaid coverage and offered subsidized private insurance. And since Massachusetts has been one of the models for the principles of the Affordable Care Act, which focuses on prevention, health advocates and policy makers have been watching the state closely to see how well the strategies work.

Apparently, pretty well. Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health compared mortality rates from before and after Massachusetts’ health care law, and found that deaths among non-elderly residents dropped 2.9% compared to similar states without the reform. The researchers looked at mortality rates up to 2010 and concentrated on deaths that were likely to be prevented with access to health care — things like infections, heart disease and cancer. Based on this data, it’s estimated that Massachusetts’ health care re-haul prevented 320 deaths a year by providing patients with the opportunity to the latest treatments for blood pressure, high cholesterol and other heart disease risk factors, as well as regular screening for cancers.

http://time.com/88320/obamacare-works-massachusetts-proves-it/

Another link: http://www.telegram.com/article/20140505/NEWS/305059582/1052

Yes we can

[Cha]

1. Thank you, IronLionZion~

[IronLionZion]

2. Shameless Kick nt

[Bandit]

3. Simply amazing, a Republican idea that actually works for ordinary people. Amazing

I never thought I would live to see the day when any Republican idea would benefit actual people. I guess it benefits Big Business even more though..Probably fifty percent of the costs could be eliminated if it were truly government run Health Care, instead of Private Health Care Insurance.

[IronLionZion]

4. The Mass legislature has some of the most liberal politicians in our country

Who care's whose idea it was? I think in some countries, the conservatives wanted single payer while the liberals wanted a more socialized system.


Check out the nonprofit insurance co-ops and mutual insurance companies. Also in some states, HMOs are required to be nonprofit. Nonprofits can compete with for profits on price and win. This is the alternative to the public option which was of course blocked by repubs.

[Bandit]

5. What is more socialized than single payer?

I did not say I cared. What I said was I am AMAZED Republicans created something that actually helps the average citizen. It is an EXTREMELY rare occurrence.

[IronLionZion]

6. The VA hospital system, Japan's system, British NHS

any system where the providers are government employees is more socialized than single payer. Single payer is like insurance, its the payment system where providers send the bills.

Yup, I got you. Romneycare, EPA, and our interstate highway system are things that might be helpful to average citizens, all created by republicans.

[okaawhatever]

7. Amen and pass the gravy nt

[Xithras]

8. Ah yes. Romneycare.

We all opposed it back then. Massive tax dollar giveaways to private insurers...saddling the middle class and the young with the costs of the program...the crazy notion that the GOVERNMENT was forcing you give YOUR MONEY to the insurance megacorporations...blah, blah, blah. Opposition to it was nearly universal.

Then someone came up with the brilliant idea to take it national, "Romneycare" became "Obamacare", and suddenly it's the greatest idea since sliced bread. To us anyway. To the Republicans, who once hailed it as the "private sector solution to the healthcare crisis", it became the worst idea that any President had ever had. And yet, the only thing that actually changed was the scale.

Politics is funny sometimes.

[IronLionZion]

9. Indeed

People bitched and whined when Canada implemented single payer one province at a time too. Change of any kind is painful. One step at a time.

Check out nonprofit insurance co-ops and mutual insurance. These compete directly with the for profit insurance companies and have proven very popular in some states like Maine and Montana.

[pampango]

10. Romney vetoed the "Romneycare" that the Democratic legislature passed. It was too liberal

for him. The legislature then overrode his veto. To still call the Massachusetts' health care law "Romneycare" (given his veto of it) seems a bit misplaced.