Gov. Patrick Praises Mass. Health Law Before Congress
BOSTON (AP) -- Gov. Deval Patrick has testified before a congressional committee on the state's 2006 health law.
Patrick told members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Tuesday that while health insurance is universally accessible in Massachusetts, it is not yet universally affordable.
Patrick detailed efforts he and others are undertaking to try to curb spending by instituting a system that rewards doctors and hospitals for improving patient care while limiting expensive but often unnecessary tests.
Patrick has his work cut out for him trying to persuade the Republican-led House of the benefits of the Massachusetts law.
One of the House's first actions was a vote to repeal President Barack Obama's national health care law, modeled after the Massachusetts law.
Patrick was attending the winter meeting of the National Governors Association.
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