Cost of health initiative up $400m (MA - Romney - care)

Boston Globe ^ | Jan. 24, 2008 | Alice Dembner

[FocusNexus]

Spending on the state's landmark health insurance initiative would rise by more than $400 million next year, representing one of the largest increases in the $28.2 billion state budget the governor proposed yesterday.

more stories like this Patrick's budget challenges lawmakers on casinos Patrick wants state workers to pay higher portion of health care State workers would see hikes in health costs under Patrick plan Patrick wants education chief in Cabinet N.H. Democrats, Republicans sharply divided on healthcare, poll finds The biggest driver of the cost increase is projected growth in the number of people signing up for state-subsidized insurance, which now far exceeds earlier estimates.

State and federal taxpayers are expected to bear nearly all of the additional cost.

Although the price tag for the initiative is ballooning, the governor yesterday reaffirmed the state's commitment to ensuring that nearly every resident is covered.

"We have fully-funded healthcare reform," Governor Deval Patrick said at a news conference. Patrick listed the initiative among several programs started by previous administrations that he supports.

But the long-term cost of the insurance initiative continues to concern pol icy makers and analysts, who are worried that it may become unaffordable.

[FocusNexus]

Do you want this for the entire US?

Who do you think will pay for it?

Go ahead and vote for Romney.

[FocusNexus]

Here it again — I don’t know how it got scrambled:

“Spending on the state’s landmark health insurance initiative would rise by more than $400 million next year, representing one of the largest increases in the $28.2 billion state budget the governor proposed yesterday.

The biggest driver of the cost increase is projected growth in the number of people signing up for state-subsidized insurance, which now far exceeds earlier estimates.

State and federal taxpayers are expected to bear nearly all of the additional cost.

Although the price tag for the initiative is ballooning, the governor yesterday reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ensuring that nearly every resident is covered.

“We have fully-funded healthcare reform,” Governor Deval Patrick said at a news conference. Patrick listed the initiative among several programs started by previous administrations that he supports.

But the long-term cost of the insurance initiative continues to concern pol icy makers and analysts, who are worried that it may become unaffordable.”

[FocusNexus]

April 12, 2006. Gov. Mitt Romney signs Massachusetts Universal Health Care law, as Sen. Ted Kennedy, standing behind him, gives his approval and support.

Gov. Romney's universal health care program for Massachusetts includes taxpayer-funded abortions. Legislation names Planned Parenthood as member of advisory board

The cornerstone of Gov. Mitt Romney's new universal health care law for Massachusetts is a program titled "Commonwealth Care", a plan for thousands of low-income people who could not afford regular health insurance, funded by the taxpayers.

One of the stated benefits covered in Commonwealth Care is "abortions." And Planned Parenthood is written into the law, as part of the "payment policy advisory board."

[ari-freedom]

Deval Patrick is a democrat

[FocusNexus]

Romney started it, Patrick followed him.

[a77]

Deval Patrick is a democrat and Mitt Romney is a liar.

[FocusNexus]

Go to the link I gave in my post 3 to read more.

Romney inaugurated Commonwealth Care with great fanfare

On Oct 3, 2006, as Gov. Romney personally signed up Commonwealth Care’s first person, the Boston Globe published this glowing editorial.

The goal is to substantially reduce the number of uninsured people in the state, which the Romney administration estimates at 372,000. One of them is Madeline Rhenisch of Brighton, who with Governor Mitt Romney at her side filed her application for a new Commonwealth Care insurance policy at the Neponset Health Center in Dorchester.

[ari-freedom]

well you’re for mccain who is both so...

[ari-freedom]

yes I know...but it is Patrick who is responsible for the plan now.

[FocusNexus]

“yes I know...but it is Patrick who is responsible for the plan now.”

That’s like saying that Bush is responsible for the Social Security and Medicare going broke.

The responsibility lies with those who make a bad plan a law, and that was Romney. And if he would get elected president, he would do the same for the US. Of course we won’t have to worry about that, because if he becomes the Republican nominee, we won’t have Romney care, we will have Hillary care — she is beating him with double digits.

[Maynerd]

The republican contest is effectively a choice between McCain and Romney. Romney may be a flip flopper but at least he flips and flops into conservatism. McCain is beyond repair.

McCain will destroy our econdomy by raising taxes and embracing the global warming cult, he will destroy our culture by granting amnesty to tens of millions of illegals. He has attempted to impair the first amendment. He has no executive or business/economic experience and is generally disliked by his peers. McCain is an opportunist who will destory conservatism and potentially wreck the country.

I'm not sure Obama or clinton would be much worse. Romney is flawed but a hell of lot better than McCain and his trendy beltway hare brained schemes.

[FocusNexus]

I could live with Romney — nobody is perfect.

My main problem with Romney is that he has no chance in the general election.

ABCNews mentioned a poll Hillary 63%, Romney 33% (or thereabouts), they specifically said Hillary is beating him by some 30 points. I tried to find it on the web, but couldn’t but even the polls on RealClearPolitics show Hillary beating Romney by 10+ points and other earlier polls showed Romney’s negatives are higher than Hillary’s.

Neither he nor McCain have any chance in the general election against the Dems.

[ari-freedom]

hillary will probably win no matter who the republican nominee is. But I’m going to vote for someone and I’m not going for mccain, rudy or huck as they are even worse than romney

[RSmithOpt]

It's bad this year for the GOP. Almost staged it seems. The field is the worst I can remember since I started following politics in the '70's. It's almost like the GOP, who did much on nothing when in power (balanced budget & secured borders), is waving the white flag.

Why?

Because it will shift focus and blame to the Dems if they slide into power for 4 years.

IMHO, this is how they (both sides of the aisle) maintain the status quo.

With respect to solutions to the costs of health care, no candidates, nor Congress, nor W, bring up the issue of tort reform and the cost of malpractice, fraud, and the costs of new meds that work and don't kill people versus the huge number that come to market, are pushed by the medical industry, then quickly removed.

After they (the toxic, not so great new drugs) are removed, law firms and Breck Girl types are salivating, beating the doors down of studios to advertise for the opportunity to skim the dollars out of the malpractice insurance coffers.

This all seriously adds to the cost of our health care.

The third, if not the highest factor driving health care, medical, Medicare, Medicaid and associated tax costs and continuous increases is fraud!

No one seems to be keen to pursue this multi hundred billion dollar monster thief, whether contrived by crooked individuals, doctors, medical service companies, or illegals and all their freebies.

Folks, when I listen to the POTUS candidates (the ones left running) and the ET (entertainment tonight) politicho's on The Hill and at state level, I concluded long time ago....They're pissing down our back and telling us it's raining!

This "cause" to provide health care to everyone parallels the same scenario and government mandated, taxpayer supported sub-prime mortgage fiasco-pades.

[Lancey Howard]

The biggest driver of the cost increase is projected growth in the number of people signing up for state-subsidized insurance, which now far exceeds earlier estimates.... State and federal taxpayers are expected to bear nearly all of the additional cost.

"State and federal taxpayers"??? Thanks alot, Romney, you scumbag.

[ari-freedom]

most people just don’t know who romney is. He’s a pretty decent guy but people will say no to someone they never really heard of. I wouldn’t put much trust in the polls until Romney is a clear front runner.

[Maynerd]

I agree that the general election polling data for Romney is grim, but it is very early and Romney is not well known among the general population. There’s at least a one in three chance that the democrat condidate will implode and the republican will win. Therefore I will unenthusiastically vote for Romney rather than hold my nose and vote for McPrick.

[ari-freedom]

yes it is pretty bad.

I miss the Fred that went after Michael moore and Cuba. That was the Fred that could have won. instead he fizzled away

[flat]

yup and if annie and rush are in favor of him ..who can be against him?

[Diogenesis]

Romney's flip flops may include conservatism but they are not conservatism.

Romney does not even allow VOTES (eg. gay marriage OR his fascistSocialized medicine).

He is more beautiful than the little people who must accept his Dictatorship.