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Article: Universal health care in Massachusetts: setting the standard for national reform.
- Article from:
- Fordham Urban Law Journal
- Article date:
- April 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Fordham Urban Law Journal. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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I. INTRODUCTION
Health care reform in the United States has proven to be one of the most complex challenges facing lawmakers and private citizens today. Although there is widespread agreement that the system is in disarray and in dire need of fundamental reform, the core problems of affordability and access continue to steadily worsen. The extent of the national health care crisis is reflected in the fact that although health care annually consumes some sixteen percent of the nation's GDP (or $2.0 trillion), (1) 46.5 million Americans under the age of sixty-five are currently uninsured. (2) Notwithstanding the astronomical resources devoted to health care, the ...