Kaiser Reports Examine Massachusetts Health Care Reform
In the face of a raging national debate on health care reform, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation released new and updated reports focusing on Massachusetts’ health care reforms. And since Massachusetts is one of the states that pioneered early health care reform, it serves as a case study for how consumers and families fared under the state’s reformed health care system.
In the September report “Consumers’ Experience in Massachusetts: Lessons for National Health Reform,” Kaiser focused particularly on people’s ability to afford and access health care. That Kaiser report, available online at http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/7976.pdf, found:
Public programs increased access to health care and provided affordable insurance coverage options for low-income individuals.
Even under the Massachusetts reforms, some people still struggle to afford health care coverage and care because the state’s subsidized health insurance is not available to low-income workers who have access to health care coverage from their employer and moderate-income people with no access to employer-sponsored health care coverage.
People with chronic conditions still face greater cost barriers to care because out-of-pocket expenses may not be affordable.
Because of the state’s various programs with different eligibility and program rules, people with changing incomes and employment statuses can fall through the cracks, resulting in gaps in coverage.
The fear of unaffordable medical bills and medical debt still create anxiety for some folks and cause many to delay or forgo needed health care services.
Kaiser also released another report detailing how families fared under the state’s health care reforms. “In Pursuit of Affordable Health Care: On the Ground Lessons from Families in Massachusetts” is based on discussions from three focus groups held in July 2009 in Boston, according to Kaiser. That report is available at http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/7975.pdf. There’s also a fact sheet on the state’s reform at http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7777-02.pdf.
Report Details Midwestern Efforts to Improve Math, Science Education
Amid growing national concerns about student performance in math and science education, states in the Midwest are employing a diverse mix of policy strategies designed to improve teaching and learning in these subject areas, a new report from the Midwestern Legislative Conference shows.
“Laboratories of Reform: Initiatives in Midwestern States to Improve Math and Science Education” highlights numerous efforts in the region, including:
a $100 million STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—initiative launched two years ago in Ohio;
new programs in Iowa and Minnesota to improve math and science teacher training and professional development; and
the implementation of new elementary-level math standards in Minnesota and tougher high school graduation requirements in states such as Michigan and North Dakota.
Research for “Laboratories of Reform” was conducted as part of Kansas Sen. Jay Emler’s agenda as 2009 chair of the MLC.
The report reveals the policy steps states either are taking or can take to improve K–12 math and science education. They include redesigning K–12 schools, encouraging young people to succeed in these subject areas and to pursue related careers, training and retaining highly qualified teachers, and improving instruction and academic rigor at all grade levels.
