Health Affairs

Health Affairs, 27, no. 6 (2008): w556-w565 (Published online 28 October 2008) doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.6.w556 © 2008 by Project HOPE	New Online   Getting Health Reform Done   After the State of the Union   Incremental Reform   E-Health in Developing World   Most-Read Articles in 2009

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Massachusetts Health Reform: A Public Perspective From Debate Through Implementation

Robert J. Blendon, Tami Buhr, Tara Sussman and John M. Benson

This study examines public opinion about the new health reform law in Massachusetts at four stages, from the beginning of the debate in September 2003 through June 2008, two years into implementation. We find that the favorable political environment in Massachusetts likely encouraged leaders to act and also contributed to the shape of the legislation as a "shared responsibility" compromise plan. Despite perceptions by some that the law is not helping the uninsured, support for it remains high—even for the individual mandate, the law’s most controversial feature. There is little interest in repealing this legislation.

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