The Massachusetts Health Care System - 2396 Words

This paper focuses on analyzing the Massachusetts health care system. Specifically it addresses how the 2006 health care reform law sought to provide health insurance coverage for the uninsured, underinsured, children, young adults, and low income residents. In addition it diminished the demand side rationing that was occurring in Massachusetts. Its desire was for universal coverage, and would be both reasonably priced and of intrinsic value. The law addressed the need to decrease barriers to health care, such as racial disparities, and overall health care costs while increasing access to provider, and utilization of services. It was to focus on quality care. This paper will exam how the Massachusetts health reform addressed these†¦show more content†¦In the early 1980’s there was increased observation by emergency room physicians that patients were being transferred or dumped from private hospitals to public hospitals based on their inability to pay. Concern for the care of the patient was one of the mitigating factors for our nation’s development of Emergency medical treatment and labor act (EMTALA) . Enacted by Congress in 1986, EMTALA was government’s way of ensuring basic screening, stabilization and care for all patients. Non participation with EMTALA was not an option, since the law tied government payments to the institutions. Simply put, if you want Medicare/ Medicaid payments you will abide by this law. EMTALA would not have been needed since there were already safeguards for indigent patients, but they were not followed, rather seen as guidelines. With the backing of EMTALA, patients had better care assurances, and guarantee of non-dismissal. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals stated that â€Å"individuals shall be accorded impartial access to treatment or accommodations that are available or medically indicated, regardless of race, creed, sex, nationality, or sources of payment for care† It has been strongly inferred that based on the implementation of emtala, increased numbers of uninsured were using the emergency rooms as their primary source of care. The thought was those without insurance, did not seek preventative care through a primary care doctor,