On Capitol Hill, Gov. Baker Touts Mass. As Example For Healthcare Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CBS) -- In his testimony Thursday on Capitol Hill, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker stressed the need for bipartisan solutions in making necessary healthcare reform.
"Massachusetts has achieved near-universal coverage, with the highest rate of individuals with health insurance in the nation," he said during his testimony. "And that's because we've been working and re-working it for more than ten years."
Baker was among a bipartisan group of governors testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about their thoughts on the health insurance industry.
.@MassGovernor on Capitol Hill: Key contributor to market stability is the presence of younger, healthier people in the market. #HELPhearing
— Tina Gao ????????♀️ (@TinaGaoOnAir) September 7, 2017
He said that bipartisan success was built around the belief that healthcare coverage is a shared commitment--not the sole responsibility of the state.
"People think of us as a high-cost state, but actually, families and individuals in Massachusetts pay less as a percent of their income in health insurance than the naitonal average," Baker said. "People in Massachusetts have lower out-of-pocket expenses as a percent of their personal income than people do at the national average level."
Among those questioning Baker was Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
On Capitol Hill: @SenWarren asks @MassGovernor if there's any benefit to @Potus idea of "blowing up insurance marketplaces." Baker:Bad idea.
— Jon MacLean (@jon_maclean) September 7, 2017
"I think Massachusetts is the example of showing that we can stick with strong insurance plans that protect families, and at the same time have market stability--and that ultimately, that works for everyone," she said after thanking Gov. Baker for his testimony.
Baker said Congress should take action on lowering rising healthcare costs--and said rising pharmaceutical costs was one thing driving the problem.