Massachusetts

20 years later: How Massachusetts health care reform changed access

Published

12 hours ago

April 14, 2026

20 years later: How Massachusetts health care reform changed access

This week marks 20 years since Massachusetts passed a landmark health care reform law that reshaped how residents access medical care and helped pave the way for national changes.Signed on April 12, 2006, the Massachusetts health care reform law — often referred to as “Romneycare” — expanded insurance coverage through a combination of Medicaid expansion, subsidized private plans, and an individual mandate requiring most residents to carry insurance. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the law led to one of the highest insured rates in the country, with coverage now exceeding 97% of residents.Two decades later, doctors say the impact is still being felt, especially when it comes to how patients enter and navigate the health system.Dr. Daniel Chandler, a primary care physician and associate chief medical information officer at Tufts Medical Center, says the law fundamentally changed access to care.“Health insurance really allows people to have a primary care doctor and a medical home,” Chandler said. “And the alternative to that is often the emergency department, which can be very expensive.” With expanded coverage, more residents are now able to see primary care providers, allowing for earlier intervention and preventive care.Chandler says that shift can make a significant difference.“You can get some necessary screening done and preventive care when it’s relatively easy to fix and it’s less expensive,” he said.Despite high coverage rates, affordability remains a top issue for many patients.“Patients complain about cost all the time,” Chandler said, noting that premiums are only part of the financial burden. “Often, there’s a lot of co-pays that can add up if you choose the wrong plan.”For patients, navigating insurance options can be overwhelming, especially during limited enrollment periods.“The topic is incredibly complex,” Chandler said. “If you have resources like family members or friends who are knowledgeable, I always recommend that you ask them.” Doctors warn that financial pressure can lead patients to delay or skip treatment — a decision that can have long-term consequences.“It can be really catastrophic to avoid treatment,” Chandler said. “If a problem is easy to fix early, that can get more difficult and more expensive over time if you don’t fix it early.”To help address those challenges, many health systems — including Tufts Medicine — now offer support services such as social workers and pharmacy teams to help patients find lower-cost medications, financial assistance or other resources.

NEEDHAM, Mass. —

This week marks 20 years since Massachusetts passed a landmark health care reform law that reshaped how residents access medical care and helped pave the way for national changes.

Signed on April 12, 2006, the Massachusetts health care reform law — often referred to as “Romneycare” — expanded insurance coverage through a combination of Medicaid expansion, subsidized private plans, and an individual mandate requiring most residents to carry insurance. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the law led to one of the highest insured rates in the country, with coverage now exceeding 97% of residents.

Two decades later, doctors say the impact is still being felt, especially when it comes to how patients enter and navigate the health system.

Dr. Daniel Chandler, a primary care physician and associate chief medical information officer at Tufts Medical Center, says the law fundamentally changed access to care.

“Health insurance really allows people to have a primary care doctor and a medical home,” Chandler said. “And the alternative to that is often the emergency department, which can be very expensive.”

With expanded coverage, more residents are now able to see primary care providers, allowing for earlier intervention and preventive care.

Chandler says that shift can make a significant difference.

“You can get some necessary screening done and preventive care when it’s relatively easy to fix and it’s less expensive,” he said.

Despite high coverage rates, affordability remains a top issue for many patients.

“Patients complain about cost all the time,” Chandler said, noting that premiums are only part of the financial burden. “Often, there’s a lot of co-pays that can add up if you choose the wrong plan.”

For patients, navigating insurance options can be overwhelming, especially during limited enrollment periods.

“The topic is incredibly complex,” Chandler said. “If you have resources like family members or friends who are knowledgeable, I always recommend that you ask them.”

Doctors warn that financial pressure can lead patients to delay or skip treatment — a decision that can have long-term consequences.

“It can be really catastrophic to avoid treatment,” Chandler said. “If a problem is easy to fix early, that can get more difficult and more expensive over time if you don’t fix it early.”

To help address those challenges, many health systems — including Tufts Medicine — now offer support services such as social workers and pharmacy teams to help patients find lower-cost medications, financial assistance or other resources.

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Massachusetts

USPS Worker Pinned Under Mail Truck After Massachusetts Crash Lucky To Be Alive, Fire Chief Says

Published

1 day ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

USPS Worker Pinned Under Mail Truck After Massachusetts Crash Lucky To Be Alive, Fire Chief Says

April 13, 2026

First responders say a United States Postal Service worker is lucky to be a live after a crash in Medway Friday that left her trapped under her mail truck.

Shortly before 11:20 a.m., police say a red pickup truck driving along Main Street struck the postal truck from behind. The mail carrier inside the postal truck was leaning out to deliver mail at the time.

The crash sent the truck rolling into the mulch of a nearby front lawn.

A USPS worker was pinned under her truck following a crash in Medway/CBS Boston

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Massachusetts

Cranston man dies in Massachusetts paramotor crash

Published

2 days ago

April 13, 2026

Press Room

Cranston man dies in Massachusetts paramotor crash

BERKLEY, Mass. (WPRI) — A paramotor operator from Cranston was pronounced dead after a crash at Myricks Airport in Berkley Sunday morning, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Emergency crews were called to the public airfield just after 9:30 on Sunday, April 12, by a witness who reported a single-seat paramotor crash, the DA’s office said.

When police and EMS arrived at the airfield, Gary Williams, 63, of Cranston, had suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the DA.

Police at the scene reported that Williams’ paramotor had a fuel leakage, and one of its propellors was broken in several places.

FILE — This photo taken in Selangor, Malaysia, on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, depicts a paramotor. Photographer: Sanjit Das/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Massachusetts State Police and the Berkley Police Department are investigating the crash.

Paramotor is a form of paragliding in which the pilot wears a backpack motor, which allows them to take off from the ground. Paraglider and paramotor operators use grass runways like the one at Myricks Airport to launch and land by foot, the Bristol County DA explained in a press release.

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Massachusetts

Lawmakers close door on Massachusetts online casino legalization

Published

2 days ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers close door on Massachusetts online casino legalization

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A House bill to green-light online casinos in Massachusetts failed to pass before the legislative session closed, but legislators voted to refer the bill for study to potentially bring back in 2027.

The legislative session closed for many states recently. For Massachusetts, that meant an end to hopes for 2026 legalization of online casinos. The state’s Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies voted to refer a House bill for study rather than advance it any further, delaying any potential for legalization until 2027.

Bill would have created up to nine Massachusetts online casinos

As introduced by Rep. David Muradian, H4431 would carve out up to three skins for each of the state’s three land-based casinos. That would create up to nine real money online casino apps operating under the oversight of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission with a tax rate of 15% on adjusted gross revenue.

The bill also would have formally prohibited online sweepstakes operators that offer content simulating casino games online, lottery and sports betting. The DraftKings Casino promo code, among others, are available in nearby New Jersey.

While the joint committee did not advance the proposal, its pledge to study it in more detail ahead of 2027 provided some optimism. As Muradian told the State House News Service, H4431 exits the 2026 session with plenty of momentum and “will hopefully serve as a springboard to future economic growth” in Massachusetts.

Lawmakers discussed Muradian’s bill last fall before they agreed to extend its reporting deadline until March.

Massachusetts preparing for internet lottery launch

Legal gaming expansion is already on the way for Massachusetts, which is preparing to go live with online lottery this year, powered by Aristrocrat Interactive. The iLottery service expects to offer online draw game tickets and instant-win games that resemble real money online slots.

While debating the online casino bill, Deb Goldberg, treasurer and lottery commissioner, emphasized that authorizing the launch of new online casinos would not be beneficial for the state or the lottery. In fact, she argued, legal casino apps would actually threaten the bottom line of potential revenue.

Massachusetts is surrounded by states with legal online casinos, with the likes of Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey nearby. What’s more, another New England state will soon join the crowd as Gov. Janet Mills allowed a bill to become law that legalized Maine online casinos.

Proponents of legal online casinos in Massachusetts have noted that those surrounding markets siphon potential revenue from the state while also pointing out that authorizing regulated iGaming would help curb black market operators and better protect state residents.

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