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Follow on Google News | ![]() In Health Care Debate, Lessons from Massachusetts' State-Run Health Care System on Coral Ridge HourThe Coral Ridge Hour looks at Massachusetts, whose government-directed health system forces all residents to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. The Bay State’s experience previews what nationalized health care would impose on all Americans.
CONTACT: Andrew Scott, (954) 334-5332, a.scott@crministries.org In Health Care Debate, Lessons from Massachusetts’ FORT LAUDERDALE, FL (September 1, 2009) – On Sunday September 6, the Coral Ridge Hour television program turns its cameras on Massachusetts, whose government-directed health system forces all residents to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. The Bay State’s experience previews what nationalized health care would impose on all Americans. http://www.coralridge.org/ Under Gov. Mitt Romney, Massachusetts in 2006 sought to reduce the number of uninsured residents. Despite the state’s wealth, “Massachusetts . . . had a number of uninsured people, 7 to 9 percent of the population,” “This caused me great pause,” Herzlinger said. “Centralized marketplaces that are run by the government—think about the Division of Motor Vehicles to imagine how efficient these places would be.” Dr. James Floyd, a researcher at consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen Health Research Group, said that under the state’s program, residents without insurance are forced to purchase it or pay a tax penalty, which this year amounts to $1,000. “[The state] also imposed a penalty on businesses that didn’t provide insurance,” Dr. Floyd noted. The rate of uninsured did fall to between 5 and 3 percent, but “to get there, they’ve had to throw over a billion dollars a year. In fact, this year they spent $1.3 billion, not on total healthcare, but just on the additional costs of the reform.” Program guests indicate that Massachusetts’ “What we can learn from Massachusetts is that when a government takes over a market, even a little one like the Massachusetts market, it limits choice,” said Herzlinger, the author of Who Killed Health Care? and a highly regarded health-care expert. She adds that the only way to artificially lower health care costs is to limit care—to decide who gets what kind of care. “Massachusetts’ INTERVIEW REQUESTS: To request an interview with Coral Ridge Hour host Dr. Jerry Newcombe, please contact Andrew Scott at a.scott@crministries.org, (954) 334-5332. # # # Coral Ridge Ministries http://www.coralridge.org is a media ministry founded over 30 years ago by Dr. D. James Kennedy. Millions of people tune in daily to our broadcasts on radio, television and Internet to hear the Gospel and gain Biblical insight on contemporary issues. End
Page Updated Last on: Sep 02, 2009
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