Essay on Massachusetts Health Reform - 1386 Words

Massachusetts Health Reform In 2006 the state of Massachusetts wanted to help its millions of citizens who were uninsured. The state legislators as well as the governor put into place a plan to help citizens get insurance. A law was passed to reform insurance in Massachusetts, which was known as Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006 of the Massachusetts General Court; its long form title is An Act Providing Access to Affordable, Quality, Accountable Health Care. The newly enacted law decreed that almost all of Massachusetts’ residents obtain a minimum level of insurance coverage. It also gave free health care insurance for Massachusetts residents that earned less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level. It also decreed that all†¦show more content†¦The rising costs of unpaid emergency room expenditures were an issue that had to be addressed by state authorities. EMTALA required that all persons be treated, however, it did not include any legislation to reimburse payment that left hospital left wi th unpaid bills and growing expenses. The state of Massachusetts had a tax set up to help pay for the expenses of the uninsured emergency room visits. The tax was known as Uncompensated Care Pool, and nicknamed free care pool. It also covered uninsured hospital admissions and community health centers. The free pool care was always underfunded and was raised annually. An MIT professor determined that the amount of money in the free pool care would be enough to fund reform legislation without needing to raise any more taxes or have additional funding. Another issue was the fact the large employers that received self-insurance were progressively giving up health insurance as an employee benefit. They also mandated that only full-time employees would be eligible for the insurance benefit. These issues among others are why advocacy groups and state legislators felt very strongly that some kind of health insurance reform was necessary. The actual statute consisted of key provisions, one o f which was the employer Fair Share Contribution and Free Rider Surcharge. Another was a requirement that each individual must have proof of coverageShow MoreRelatedPositive And Negative Effects Of The Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Reform Act2274 Words   |  10 Pagesto improve overall healthcare, the state of Massachusetts implemented the Health Care Insurance Reform Act. This paper looks at the positive and negative effects of the Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Reform Act (MHRA). Using a literature review of public health studies ranging from 2009-2012, I argue that there are both positive and negative effects of the Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Reform. While the Massachusetts Reform increased health insurance coverage for all citizens and decreasedRead MoreThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)1660 Words   |  7 PagesProtection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is one of the most substantial reforms in Medicare since 1965. This is now consid ered the law of the land according to Douglas Holtz-Eaton. The PPACA portrays a â€Å"coverage first† strategy. â€Å"Sadly, a review a of the state’s experience bodes poorly for the future of national reform.† (Point/Counterpoint 177) There are two major driving factors in which could propose a threat for this reform. The first factor is it costs too much. Many decades ago, healthcareRead MoreThe Effects Of Universal Health Insurance Mandate On The Massachusetts Labor Market1372 Words   |  6 Pagesthe universal health insurance mandate in the Massachusetts labor market. Using a difference-in-differences (DID) model, this study focuses on the co-evolution of insurance coverage and labor markets. One found that under the recent legislation, workers from firms of varying sizes demonstrate different patterns with regards to obtaining insurance coverage. While employer-sponsored health insurance is designed to be the primary source of coverage for Massachusetts residents under reform, two legal loopholesRead MoreThe Massachusetts Of Massachusetts893 Words   |  4 PagesThe Massachusetts Experiment Massachusetts has undergone many changes in their health care system since enacting a universal health care law in 1988. The effects of the Massachusetts health care laws are a good indicator of what people should expect from the enactment of the ACA. The multiple health care reforms in Massachusetts were in an attempt to increase health care coverage while still maintaining financial stability. Background Massachusetts began its health care reform in 1988. Under theRead MoreThe Massachusetts Health Care System1563 Words   |  7 Pagesfocuses on analyzing the Massachusetts health care system. Specifically it addresses how the 2006 health care reform law sought to increase health insurance coverage for the uninsured, underinsured, children, young adults, and low income residents. Its desire was for universal coverage for all its residents, and that it would be both reasonably priced and of value. The Law addressed need to decrease the barriers to health care, such as racial disparities, and overall health care costs while increasingRead MoreThe Massachusetts Health Mandate And The Role Of Health1878 Words   |  8 Pages THE MASSACHUSETTS HEALTH MANDATE AND THE ROLE OF HEALTH INSURANCE INTRODUCTION In 2006, the state of Massachusetts set out to close the gap in the number of uninsured citizens within its borders. The number of uninsured non-elderly adults in the state was nearly 17% (Chandra, 2011a). The same author said executives in the state realized the growing problemRead MoreThe Massachusetts Health Care System2396 Words   |  10 Pagesanalyzing the Massachusetts health care system. Specifically it addresses how the 2006 health care reform law sought to provide health insurance coverage for the uninsured, underinsured, children, young adults, and low income residents. In addition it diminished the demand side rationing that was occurring in Massachusetts. Its desire was for universal coverage, and would be both reasonably priced and of intrinsic value. The law addressed the need to decrease barriers to health care, such as racialRead MoreThe Massachusetts Health Care Act Of 2006922 Words   |  4 Pages The Massachusetts Health Care Act of 2006 was an attempt to gi ve healthcare to all of the residents of Massachusetts. The law mandated that nearly every resident of Massachusetts obtain a minimum level of insurance coverage, provided free health care insurance for residents earning less than 150% of the federal poverty level and mandated employers with more than 10 full-time employees to provide healthcare insurance. The law was amended significantly in 2008 and twice in 2010 to make it consistentRead MoreEssay about The Impact of The Affordable Care Act1660 Words   |  7 Pagesalways had a realization that there was a problem with obtaining affordable health insurance. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) also known as Obamacare, was signed into law in March 2010. This law enables people who were unable to afford healthcare the ability to obtain a healthcare plan at an affordable rate. In 2009 a survey was taken as to the amount of people in the United States that carried health insurance. In table one below you can see over 50 million people in the UnitedRead MoreImproving Access Of Healthcare1156 Words   |  5 PagesIn the United States, health insurance expansion and market reforms have focused on increasing the access of healthcare. For instance the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 focuses on the expansion of affordable quality health care to millions of uninsured. The act requires that all Americans purchase a private health care plan or enroll in a government funded insurance program. The often repeated argument in favor of expanding health care coverage is that

Innocence and Oppressiveness in Fahrenheit 451 and Animal...

In the book Fahrenheit 451 and the book Animal Farm characters who are unaware of their surroundings allow for characters such as Beatty, Mr. Jones, and Napoleon to take over. Often times it is necessary for an oppressive power to be forceful in order to take over. Hitler is a leader who used force to take over the German people. In the case of both of these books the naà ¯vetà © groups of people are used for their ignorance for the benefit of the leaders, and physical power is not required. Animal Farm and Fahrenheit 451 both have a group of naà ¯ve people who share the inability to question power, possess loyalty, and stupidity. In Animal Farm and Fahrenheit 451 the naivetà © groups failed to question their authority’s power. In the book†¦show more content†¦The animals along with the citizens from each of the two books are loyal to their leaders, they continue to uphold the information given to them and they embrace their power. In Fahrenheit 451 Mildred, the wife of Guy Montage is confident in the information she is given. Mildred spends her life watching and listening to that parlor walls and their local radio station. This continuous use of the same source nourishes her unawareness to the truth. â€Å"You want to give up everything? After all these years of working, because, one night, some woman and her books?--† (Bradbury 51) Mildred tries to explain to Montage that his dramatic decision to change his beliefs is corrupt. She tells him that he cannot just agree with what this woman is telling him and he cannot leave everything he knows for â€Å"some books†. Mildred is loyal to the principles instilled in her by their town’s government. â€Å"Napoleon is always right,† (Orwell 70) Boxer voices his opinion to the other animals. His broad statement gives evidence to the fidelity he has to his leader Napoleon. Mildred and Boxer both strongly agree with their leaders values and they encompass much trust with in their leaders. The succinct stupidity that the characters of the naivetà © groups in both novels have is reasoning for why characters are being able to be oppressed by characters like Beatty and Napoleon. Mildred is foolish because

Harvard Management Co and Inflation Protected Bonds free essay sample

The Harvard Management Company is an entity wholly owned by Harvard University and it is responsible for managing Harvard’s endowment and pension assets. At the end of the second quarter of 2000, Harvard Management Co. oversaw the management of $19 billion, the majority of it managed internally by Harvard’s investment professionals. The endowment’s goal is to provide a real return of 6%-7%, of which 4%-5% would be distributed annually to the university and the balance of returns would remain to allow for a real growth rate of spending. As of the second quarter of 2000, Harvard was actively considering creating an allocation to Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) in its Policy Portfolio. Harvard believed the portfolio weights should be changed due to changes in capital market assumptions and the rise of TIPS as an institutional-level investment. TIPS Versus Nominal Treasury Bonds Like many institutional portfolios, Harvard’s portfolio contained an 11% target allocation to domestic bonds. We will write a custom essay sample on Harvard Management Co and Inflation Protected Bonds or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Including US Treasury securities as substantial portion of this allocation would allow Harvard to earn a market return on a fixed income instrument without having to worry the credit risk. However, investing in Treasuries carries significant risks such as interest rate risk and inflation risk. Traditional Treasury securities consist of a par value of a bond and a state coupon rate, which is paid semiannually. The payments are fixed throughout the life of the bond, but the real value of the principal at maturity can be significantly different that the beginning of the investment due to inflation, or a loss in the purchasing power of money. Traditional Treasuries do not adjust their principal and interest payments due to changes in the inflation rate. TIPS are different in that their principal value adjusts to increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI is a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services. Changes in the CPI are used to assess price changes associated with the cost of living, and it is an indicator of the level of inflation. The coupon payments naturally adjust to inflation since the coupon payment is always based on the inflation adjusted principal of TIPS. Harvard views TIPS as a favorable investment because they would provide an inflation adjusted return, which is a central focus of Harvard’s investment strategy. TIPS will outperform regular Treasuries in an environment where inflation is greater than expected. Expected inflation is measured by the nominal Treasury yield of a given maturity minus the TIPS yield of the same maturity. If real inflation is greater than this expected inflation, then TIPS would end up a higher return than the corresponding nominal Treasury bond. Harvard seeks to add value to its portfolio by protecting part of its fixed income exposure against inflation risk. Comparing Interest Rate Risk and Inflation Risk of TIPS and Nominal Treasuries A rise in real interest rates would drive the price of TIPS down. A rise in real interest rates would imply a rise in nominal rates holding inflation constant or a fall in inflation holding nominal rates constant. A rise in real rates would drive the price of TIPS down just as a rise in rates drives the price of nominal Treasuries down; the present value of the bond’s cash flows would be driven down by higher interest rates. A fall in inflation or outright deflation would lower the expected value of cash flows from a TIPS investment, resulting in lower prices. Additionally, increases in realized inflation will not affect the market value of TIPS, all else equal. This is because markets are forward looking and would have already priced in the increase in the principle value of TIPS. Increases in expected inflation will increase the value of TIPS as investors bid up prices in anticipation of higher realized inflation in the future. In contrast, nominal Treasuries will fall in value as inflation expectations increase. Nominal Treasuries fall in value because investors demand higher yields so that they can earn a return above inflation. As the market perceives inflation risk to be higher, investors will seek the safety of inflation protected securities (TIPS) thus driving their prices higher. Nominal Treasury bond prices fall due to increases in actual inflation, expected inflation, and heightened inflation risk. . The chart below shows the average annual inflation over several decades. As you can see, inflation over the long term has been approximately 3. 24%.

Profile Of Filmmaker Errol Morris Essays - Films, The Thin Blue Line

Profile Of Filmmaker Errol Morris Dallas police officer, Robert Wood, was shot five times and murdered after pulling over a vehicle for a minor traffic violation. Randall Dale Adams was arrested, convicted and sentenced to death for the crime. Adams plead "not guilty" to the charges. He claimed 16 year old David Harris, whom he had spent several hours with on the day of the crime, was the true killer. In Mark Singer's "Profile of Filmmaker Errol Morris," Singer describes Randall Adams case as it was portrayed in the movie The Thin Blue Line. Singer argues that Morris made the film to prove Adams innocence and illustrate "that Adams had received anything but a fair trial." Singer, an author for The New Yorker Magazine, took personal interest in the case because he, as well as Morris, believed Adams was innocent and deserved a new and fair trial. The prosecution won the case against Adams for three major reasons: David Harris' testimony, Prosecutor Douglas Mulder's prominence, determination, and the prosecutions three key eyewitnesses, Emily Miller, Robert Miller, and Michael Randell. After the conclusion of the trial Adams maintained his innocence and filmmaker, Errol Morris met with David Harris and began to have doubts about Adams guilt. Morris investigated the case further and discovered it was "unfair" on constitutional grounds and Adams was in fact innocent. Morris made a movie entitled The Thin Blue Line, which was a description of the actual events in the Adams homicide case. Morris intended to illustrate thirteen points of unwarranted prosecution. There were four blatant acts of perjury or outright unfairness in Adams first trial. Judge Metcalf would not permit the use David Harris' extensive previous criminal record, including pending charges in another county as evidence. This left Adams in the "guilty chair" even before the trial began. Prosecutor Mulder demanded a guilty verdict with a death penalty sentence for this trial and he was willing to go to any length to achieve that. He found three witnesses to the crime scene after offering a $20,000 reward and an all expense paid stay at Dallas motel during the trial. The first witness, Emily Miller, had a daughter who was facing robbery charges in another county and Mulder agreed to drop the charges in exchange for Emily's testimony. Emily testified to witnessing Adams in the driver's seat of the car, at the time of the shooting, and she positively identified Adams in a police line-up. Morris conducted interview with the three witnesses, Emily Miller, Robert Miller and Michael Randell. Emily Miller admitted to being directed to pick Adams in the line-up after she chose the wrong man. Robert Miller was quoted as saying; "I didn't see anything." Randell admitted to being drunk "out of his mind" when he passed the scene. The fourth major point of perjury in Morris' defense for Adams was Teresa Turko's, Robert Woods' partner, original description of the killer. She described him as "Mexican or light-skinned black" which varied greatly from Adams Caucasian skin. Her original description was not used and had evolved to match Adams description by the time of the trial. The Thin Blue Line was effective in getting Adams a writ hearing and the chance for a new trial. The judge ruled on six grounds of constitutional unfairness deeming it an unjust trial. It was apparent that Singer was on the side of the defense for several reasons. Singer said, "Dennis White (Adams attorney) was simply no match for Doug Mulder, who is said to have once boasted, "Anybody can convict a guilty man. It takes talent to convict an innocent man." He includes this quote to demonstrate Mulder's determination to win even if he is prosecuting the wrong man. A quote such as that evokes the sentiment of a reader who is in favor upholding justice. Throughout the excerpt Singer uses words like, "unfortunately" to depict actions Adams' lawyers did not take, and "ensconced" to describe the so-called witnesses stay at the Alamo Plaza motel. Singer recognized Adams bad luck and referred to it as "consistent." These words and phrases are influential in expressing his opinion because they have negative connotations and portray the prosecution in a bad light. Singer's distaste for "witness" Emily Miller is very clear. He describes her as a "bleached blonde" and says one of her childhood ambitions was to be the "...wife of a detective." A woman who is willing to settle for the position of wife to her goals, is not a beneficial member to society. Singer makes it a point to quote Emily's interview