Financing Health Care Reform: Can Oregon Adopt Massachusetts' Method?
Loading...
Date
2008-06
Authors
Okwumabua, Yadilichukwu
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Planning, Public Policy & Management, University of Oregon
Abstract
Despite spending the most money per capita on health care, the United States is plagued
with lack of access to quality health care issues. Over 16% of Americans are uninsured
and the problem continues to worsen. The United States government spent over $2.3
trillion on health care in 2007. If such large amounts of money are already being spent on
health care and 48 million people are still uninsured, how can a mandated health program
be financed? Although a definitive answer to the issue of financing a mandated reform
has yet to be discovered, the pursuit of a solution has already been initiated at the state
level.
In 2006, Massachusetts introduced its own health reform that would make coverage
affordable to the uninsured. The plan relies on the redistribution of federal and state
funds, employer contributions, existing hospital and provider assessments, and a mandate
on individuals. As other states begin to look to Massachusetts as a model for reform, this
paper examines the likelihood that a similar financing model will be successful in
Oregon.
Description
Examining committee: Jessica Greene, chair, Laura Leete
Keywords
Health care, Health care reform, Health care costs