Massachusetts Health Reform Wins Innovations in American Government Award

Harvard Kennedy School`s Ash Institute Honors Initiative to Expand Access to
Health Insurance

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(Business Wire)--
The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F.
Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University today announced the
Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority as a 2009 Innovations in
American Government Award winner. As the country explores ways to expand access
and reduce costs to health care, Massachusetts` innovation is a key focus of the
national debate. This independent state authority increases the pool of citizens
with health insurance in Massachusetts, a central mandate of the state`s health
reform law of 2006. The program is one of six government initiatives honored at
yesterday`s reception in Washington, D.C. which concluded with the premier of
2009 Visionaries, a PBS-produced documentary highlighting this year`s
Innovations winners. The Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority will
receive a grant towards the replication of its best practices nationwide.

Launched in 2006, the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority is a
public private hybrid entity, which combines funding from both government and
private insurance agencies to operate. Under the provisions of the 2006 health
reform law, all Massachusetts adults must purchase health insurance if they can
afford it. In order to meet this requirement, the Connector offers residents two
coverage programs:

* CommCare: This subsidized coverage plan is for low-income adults who
previously could not afford non-group coverage and were not eligible for
employer-sponsored insurance or Medicaid. In FY09, the Connector estimates that
over 200,000 adults are eligible for this plan and currently 160,000 have
enrolled.
* CommChoice: CommChoice is a commercial insurance tool for individuals and
small businesses designed to reduce the cost of plans through managed
competition. Using the Connector`s website, users can comparison shop through a
host of brand-name insurance plans to determine the most appropriate for their
needs.

Results

Since the Connector`s inception, the state`s uninsured rate has dropped from
10.4 percent in 2006 to 2.6 percent in 2008. The national average uninsured rate
remains at 15.3 percent. Other results include

* Decline in free care use: According to a report by the Massachusetts Division
of Health Care Finance and Policy, use of free care such as ERs and free clinics
has decreased by 37 percent for the quarter ending December 2007 over the same
quarter in 2006.
* Public support: Since 2006, public support for the Connector`s programs and
the health reform law has increased from 61 percent to 69 percent. These
findings were reported in the 2008 independent opinion survey sponsored by the
Harvard School of Public Health and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Foundation.
* Replication: The program continues to train and share best practices with
states around the country including Utah and California. At the national level,
current health care plan debates include elements of the Massachusetts plan such
as exchange (similar to CommChoice), the mandate that all individuals purchase
insurance, and requirements that employers provide insurance or pay into a
larger fund.

"Innovation is one of our primary values," said Jon Kingsdale, executive
director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority. "Recognition
of this from the world`s premier school for the advanced study of policy and
politics is gratifying and comes at a critical juncture in the national health
reform debate. At a time when all levels of government are triaging programs to
balance budgets, the support from Governor Patrick and legislative leadership
has played a major role in our success."

About the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation

The Roy and Lila Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation advances
excellence in governance and strengthens democratic institutions worldwide.
Through its research, education, international programs, and government
innovations awards, the Institute fosters creative and effective government
problem solving and serves as a catalyst for addressing many of the most
pressing needs of the world`s citizens. The Ford Foundation is a founding donor
of the Institute. Additional information about the Ash Institute is available at
www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu.

Ash Institute
Kate Hoagland, 617-495-4347
kate_hoagland@harvard.edu
or
Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority
Richard Powers, 617-933-3141
richard.r.powers@state.ma.us

Copyright Business Wire 2009