government
Many Massachusetts residents see state health reforms as ineffective
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 18, 2011
Nearly half of Massachusetts residents said the state's health system reforms, enacted in 2006, are not working, according to a poll released April 6 by Suffolk University and WHDH-TV in Boston. An additional 38% said the law is working, and 13% were undecided.
The poll did not ask respondents why they thought the law was not working, but state leaders are working to preserve the state's Commonwealth Connector reforms by containing health costs. The state's health reforms, a model for the national reform effort, require residents to have health coverage or pay a tax penalty. Massachusetts' law has reduced the percentage of uninsured residents from 10.6% in 2006 to 4.4% in 2009, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
The poll is based on a sample of 500 likely voters and was conducted April 3-5. It is available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/04/18/gvbf0418.htm.
