Healthcare reform legislation in Massachusetts had positive effect, says CDC

Federal health officials have said that healthcare reform legislation in Massachusetts had a positive effect overall and for historically under-served sub-populations.

Overall in Massachusetts, insurance coverage increased from 89 percent in 2005 to 97 percent in 2008, representing an estimated 300,000 additional insured, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The officials also said that the study focused on the impact of the law on historically under-insured populations such as young adults, low-income groups and Hispanics.

The report further explained that data from the Massachusetts Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were analyzed to measure the short-term impact of Massachusetts healthcare reform on health insurance coverage and access to care among different population groups of Massachusetts adults.

It was also said by the report," Most population subgroups experienced substantial increases in health insurance coverage, with the Hispanic population benefiting most from the law -- 5 percent increase in insurance coverage for black adults; 11 percent increase for young males ages 18-34 and 14 percent increase for Hispanics." (With Inputs from Agencies)