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In Massachusetts, approximately half a million men, women
and children lack health insurance coverage. According to
the Institute of Medicine, people who lack coverage are far
less likely to have seen a doctor in the last year and receive
preventative care, and far more likely to postpone or go without
care. They are also twice as likely to be hospitalized for
avoidable complications of diabetes and high blood pressure.
This situation is sharply at odds with our values as a commonwealth
and adds tremendous inefficiency and cost to the health care
system.
Partners HealthCare has maintained its commitment to providing
care for the uninsured and for children and adults on Medicaid.
During the past year:
- Partners hospitals and doctors
have provided nearly $126 million in uncompensated care
for more than 35,000 uninsured patients.
- Care for patients on Medicaid was provided
at a loss of nearly $124 million, because Medicaid reimbursement
does not cover hospital costs. In FY2005, only 70 percent
of costs were covered by Medicaid reimbursement for the
nearly 91,000 children and adults on Medicaid cared for
by Partners hospitals, doctors, health centers, and sub-acute
facilities and services.
In collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts,
Partners has worked with health care coverage advocates, other
hospitals, health centers, and our own physicians, nurses,
and other caregivers, to support the Governor’s and
Massachusetts Legislature’s health reform plan that
will expand coverage for the uninsured, help to control costs,
improve quality, and ensure that publicly funded health care
costs are adequately reimbursed.
© Copyright 2007 Partners HealthCare System, Inc.
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