In April of 2006, Massachusetts enacted its landmark health reform, Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006, An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care. Four years later, in March 2010, the federal government followed suit when President Obama signed The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Major components of the ACA were modeled on the 2006 Massachusetts reform, but the laws are not identical. States were given a significant amount of flexibility in implementing the ACA, and Massachusetts had to make decisions as to how best to implement the federal law. As a result, ACA implementation has led to changes in existing health programs, policies, and operations in Massachusetts.
The ACA will bring about changes to the state’s subsidized coverage options, eligibility and enrollment policies and procedures, private insurance market, and payment reform initiatives.