Health coverage amendment gets deferred

November vote is placed in doubt

By Jeffrey Krasner, Globe Staff | July 13, 2006

Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would guarantee affordable healthcare coverage to all Massachusetts residents were dealt a setback yesterday at the state's Constitutional Convention when the measure was sent to a legislative committee for further study.

The move makes it doubtful that the amendment question will appear on the November ballot. Even if the committee acts favorably on the proposal, it might not reach the Legislature for a floor vote in time to be included on the ballot.

The measure needed 50 votes from the combined Senate and House membership to be put on the ballot, where a simple majority would carry the amendment.

``If this had gone to a floor vote, it would have been a slam dunk," said Barbara Waters Roop , co-chairwoman of the Health Care for Massachusetts Campaign, an advocacy group. ``The only way to defeat this was through a parliamentary maneuver like this. We hope it was sincerely meant as a way to clarify some concerns about the amendment."

The proposed amendment would guarantee ``comprehensive, affordable, and equitably financed health insurance coverage" for all state residents.

The campaign for the amendment lost momentum in recent months as the Legislature passed a healthcare reform bill and state government began to implement the law, which is intended to provide health insurance to about 500,000 residents who now lack coverage. The law puts in place incentives for businesses to offer meaningful healthcare insurance and for individuals to purchase coverage. Affordable health insurance plans for low-income residents are expected to be available by Oct. 1.

Last week, a group of healthcare advocates abandoned its efforts to put a healthcare question on the November ballot.

The measure would have sought a more radical reform than the one being implemented by the state by extending premium subsidies to more residents and paying for expanded healthcare through an increase in the cigarette tax and new contributions from businesses.

That coalition, Massachusetts Affordable Care Today, said it will now support implementation of the new law and help to ensure that businesses meet their obligations to provide healthcare coverage to employees.