AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC HEALTH OPTION: would provide for the offering a public health benefits plan – the public health insurance option – to eligible individuals and groups, to ensure choice, competition, and stability of affordable, high quality coverage throughout Massachusetts.
The Connector Board would establish payment rates for the Public Health Insurance Option for services and providers based on parts A and B of Medicare. The Commonwealth Connector Board may determine the extent to which adjustments to base Medicare payment rates would be made in order to fairly reimburse providers and medical goods and device makers, as well as to maintain a strong provider network. Health care providers (including physicians and hospitals) participating in Medicare are participating providers in the public option unless they opt out through a process to be established by the Commonwealth Connector.