ObamaCare Already Failing in Massachusetts

Written by Kevin on 01 March 2010

Governor Deval Patrick

The state of Massachusetts has ObamaCare and it’s failing miserably. There is a coverage mandate yet premiums continue to climb higher and faster than the rest of the nation.

average Massachusetts insurance premiums are now the highest in the nation. Since 2006, they’ve climbed at an annual rate of 30% in the individual market. Small business costs have increased by 5.8%. Per capita health spending in Massachusetts is now 27% higher than the national average, and 15% higher even after adjusting for local wages and academic research grants. The growth rate is faster too.

The Massachusetts plan was hatched to control spending on health care yet spending is out of control and way over budget.

As with all new entitlements, the rolling cost crisis began almost immediately. For fiscal 2010 taxpayer costs are $47 million over budget, in part due to the recession, and while the $913 million Mr. Patrick requested for 2011 is a 5% increase over 2010, spending has grown on average 6.7% per year.

So now, that premiums are rising and the state budget is busting what is the plan to solve this government created crisis? Price controls.

Governor Deval Patrick landed a neutron bomb, proposing hard price controls across almost all Massachusetts health care. State regulators already have the power to cap insurance premiums, which Mr. Patrick is activating. He also filed a bill that would give state regulators the power to review the rates of hospitals, physician groups and some specialty providers. Those that are deemed too high “shall be presumptively disapproved.”

The funny (or sad) part of all of this is that this universal health care system was signed into law by Republican Governor Mitt Romney. And the even funnier part (or sadder) is that his Democrat successor Governor Deval Patrick is doubling down with price controls. Both parties ignoring reality thinking government is the solution to all life’s problems.

Now, the funniest part (or saddest) is that Congress and President Obama is ignoring everything that is happening to the people of Massachusetts and proposes to implement the entire universal health care debacle, including price controls, on the entire nation in one fell swoop.

The future of national health care is now in Massachusetts and it’s failing miserably.

Read the Wall Street Journal’s Editorial on Massachusetts and ObamaCare

Tags: barack obama, health care, massachusetts
Posted in Politics | No Comments »