Monitoring the Impact of Health Care Reform in Massachusetts, Phase 2
Award Amount:
$145,717
Approval Date:
July 10, 2007
Start Date:
July 1, 2007
End Date:
June 30, 2008
The Urban Institute
2100 M Street, N.W.
Washington, Dist. of Columbia 20037
Principal Investigator:
Sharon K. Long
This study will evaluate the impact of Massachusetts's recently enacted health care reform legislation. With Fund support, a survey was completed last year, before the reform was initiated, to collect baseline information on coverage, health care access, utilization of services, and out-of-pocket costs. Of particular note, the 18-to-25 age group is estimated to account for approximately 42 percent of the uninsured in Massachusetts—a finding that supports the state's targeting of young adults. In phase 2, the project team will collect data through a follow-up survey to assess the reform's first-year impact on insurance status, access to and use of health services, and out-of-pocket spending, particularly among the uninsured and individuals with low and moderate income. Additional survey questions will address areas related to the new coverage programs and health insurance purchasing mechanisms available under the law. A subsequent follow-up survey in 2008 will gather similar information to support a pre/post analysis.