Focus on Providers

The Reform Law affects hospitals in multiple ways. It assigns them the task of directing the uninsured into MassHealth and the new insurance products. It places new quality and cost requirements on providers, and changes the way health care is financed. And because hospitals and community health centers are not just providers of care but also employers of health care personnel, the law's clear directives to employers affect hospitals as well. (See the Focus on Employers section of this website for more information on hospitals as employers.)

All Massachusetts providers are committed wholeheartedly to ensuring that the reform law works and that the residents and communities we care for are well served by its many elements.

Here are some resources for Providers to use to understand the law and help explain it to patients:

  • You can download, print, and distribute the PDF of this MHA reform booklet — Massachusetts Health Care Reform: Background, Analysis, and Reflections on a “First-in-the-Nation” Coverage Initiative.
  • To understand the law and delve deeper into it, it may help to have the actual text of the historic legislation — Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006.
  • There's a lot of questions about health care reform in Massachusetts and many groups have posted their own set of FAQs tailored to their specific audiences. Here is a list of sites with FAQs:
  • On January 24, 2007, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the 2007 federal poverty level (FPL) yearly income numbers. Please see the charts showing the new guidelines. Eligibility determination for MassHealth, Commonwealth Care, Insurance Partnership, and the Uncompensated Care Pool is based on these numbers effective beginning April 1, 2007.

Marketing/Media Resources

Hospitals and community health centers are on the front lines in helping to enroll the uninsured and underinsured into the various health plans now available. Several marketing materials (Posters, Brochures, Videos, and Public Service Announcements) are available here for providers to use to reach out to their communities to explain the new law and to enroll residents.

Coverage Options

Commonwealth Choice Plans

Here you'll find the overview of benefits and costs of each plan.

Additional Resources

Here you can find other resources, including state websites and phone numbers, health plan contact information, estimated premiums by region and health plan, and more details.