QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (11) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Goldberger, S. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

The Politics of Universal Access: The Massachusetts Health Security Act of 1988

This article analyzes the passage of an unprecedented state law, promising every resident access to affordable health insurance. The Massachusetts Health Security Act of 1988 was the product of a set of political and financial pressures that had been developing for nearly a decade. Hospital, insurance, and business interests were unable to reach a new accommodation on hospital payment. This logjam created the opportunity for a policy breakthrough, but did not inherently lend itself to progressive reform. It was consumer activism that forced the traditional powers in health policy to address the interests of the uninsured. By imposing a more public-interest agenda on the process, consumers were able to change the configuration of the stalemate, but could not resolve it. The particular terms of the stalemate, however, made possible a new, more aggressive role for state government in health policy. Unable to satisfy their competing interests within a policy framework that had universal access as a goal, traditionally powerful interest groups found themselves increasingly dependent on the state to broker a new agreement. While the many concessions made to these groups are likely to prove to be the bill's undoing, the unraveling of the agreement will not end the story. The same pressures which led to passage of the Massachusetts law and which are now causing other states to act will continue to exert their effect until a more durable solution is found.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. S. Chen and M. Weir The Long Shadow of the Past: Risk Pooling and the Political Development of Health Care Reform in the States Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, October 1, 2009; 34(5): 679 - 716. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. J. Blendon, T. Buhr, T. Sussman, and J. M. Benson Massachusetts Health Reform: A Public Perspective From Debate Through Implementation Health Aff., November 1, 2008; 27(6): w556 - w565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. D. Brown Dogmatic Slumbers: American Business and Health Policy Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, January 1, 1993; 18(2): 339 - 357. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. A. Glaser Universal Health Insurance That Really Works: Foreign Lessons for the United States Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, January 1, 1993; 18(3): 695 - 722. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Kronick The Slippery Slope of Health Care Finance: Business Interests and Hospital Reimbursement in Massachusetts Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, December 1, 1990; 15(4): 887 - 913. [Abstract] [PDF]