National Health Reform: What Does This Mean for Massachusetts?

President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 — the federal health care reform bill — into law on March 23, 2010.

The purpose of the law is to provide accessible health care coverage for an estimated 32 million Americans who are currently uninsured, and it will help people who already have health insurance retain their coverage. Some of the law’s provisions are effective in 2010, while others will be phased in through 2020.

Massachusetts’ own health care reform law already includes some of these reforms, while others will mean changes for Massachusetts Health Insurers and consumers.

This alert lists some of the initial elements of national health reform and what they mean for Massachusetts residents.