During Governor Deval Patrick’s eight years as governor, the historic Chapter 58 universal coverage law (that was signed by his predecessor Mitt Romney) was fully implemented, and the state undertook the transparency and e-health initiatives in Chapter 305 in 2008, Chapter 288’s premium relief in 2010, and the payment and delivery reforms in the 2012’s Chapter 224. While debate will continue on the laws and how they’re implemented, no one argues the profoundly ambitious changes to healthcare that have occurred, as a result of legislative and administrative actions, during Patrick’s tenure as governor.
Governor Patrick’s administration was open and receptive to discussions with MHA about the direction of the healthcare system, and its funding. Administration officials at agencies, such as those within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, worked collaboratively with hospitals on a wide variety of issues, including health coverage for low-income residents, quality measurement, hospital reimbursement, and payment and delivery reforms. After a challenging economic recession and budget crisis, which significantly affected MassHealth hospital reimbursement, Patrick in recent years made strong steps to improve payments to hospitals.
Among the triumphs and some missteps of the Administration, it was obvious that healthcare reform was always a top priority. As the governor referenced in a 2013 Faneuil Hall speech, health reform "is a values statement. It’s about insuring people against a medical catastrophe. It’s about being our brothers’ and sisters’ keeper by helping others help themselves.”