Say Anything Blog

But, I thought Massachusetts had mandated health insurance for all of its citizens?

Cambridge Health Alliance, a key part of the Boston area’s healthcare network, is facing a potentially “catastrophic” loss this year and is looking to eliminate up to 300 jobs, or about 9 percent of its workforce, in an effort to stabilize finances.
more stories like this

The alliance, which includes Cambridge Hospital, Somerville Hospital, and Whidden Hospital in Everett, says it is being hit hard by the state’s new healthcare reform law, which has left it responsible for providing free care for those without insurance while reducing the hospitals’ compensation for such services.

“A significant downturn in our volume and the transition to the new free care pool reimbursement system created a perfect storm for us,” said Dennis D. Keefe, chief executive of the alliance.

Another victory for government-run health care.

What’s really scary is that when this thing passed so-called “universal health care” proponents were eying it as a model for a national health care system.