Over the summer, we are highlighting aspects of our Shared Prosperity Agenda. Our members are sharing their experiences and expertise on Education, Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Wages, and Progressive Revenue.

This week we are focusing on Healthcare -- Within five years, we want quality, affordable health care covering all medically necessary treatment, a single-payer system similar to Medicare for all. A good first step would be a public option, enabling any resident to pay into an enhanced MassHealth system.

This is part one of our two-part series on Healthcare written by Robin Akerman, Ken Farbstein, Ari Fertig, Shaina Kasper and Enku Kebede-Francis. Special thanks to Ari Fertig and Brian Rosman for this post!

Since the 1980s, the state has tried a series of dramatic health policy endeavors, each of which has influenced national policy. To understand where we are going next, and if we want to enact our Shared Prosperity Agenda, it’s worth taking the time to understand the rich history of the health reform movement here at home. Below Ari Fertig has adapted a version of some of that history by Brian Rosman, Research Director at Health Care For All.

Over the summer, we are highlighting aspects of our Shared Prosperity Agenda. Our members are sharing their experiences and expertise on Education, Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Wages, and Progressive Revenue.

This week we are focusing on Healthcare -- Within five years, we want quality, affordable health care covering all medically necessary treatment, a single-payer system similar to Medicare for all. A good first step would be a public option, enabling any resident to pay into an enhanced MassHealth system.

This is part one of our three-part series on healthcare written by Robin Akerman, Ken Farbstein, Ari Fertig, Shaina Kasper and Enku Kebede-Francis. Thank you!

Before the implementation of the 2006 health reform, Massachusetts had a fragmented health insurance scheme: many residents lacked coverage and those who were uninsured extensively overused hospital emergency rooms.  Shortly after the law was enforced, the first in the nation, 98% of the residents were covered.  Nobody can say it was an easy process and twice in 2008 and 2010, the original law was amended and currently Massachusetts is in the process of complying with the Federal program, The Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was modeled after the Massachusetts program.

For the next few weeks, Progressive Massachusetts is highlighting one aspect of our Shared Prosperity Agenda, having our members write their perspectives on why Education, Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Wages, and Progressive Revenue are important to them. For our first week, we are focusing on Education -- Within five years, we want free, publicly funded education for all residents from pre-K through Community, Vocational, or Four-Year College; A good first step would be universal, publicly funded pre-K available for all residents.This is part one of our three-part series on education written by Susan Davidoff, Jane Franz, Maxwell Morrongiello, with input from several others. Thank you!

President John Kennedy once said “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.” Everyday, Massachusetts policy-makers have a choice: They can choose to act in creating economic prosperity and equality in the commonwealth by investing in Universal Pre-K and free Public Higher Education. Or they can do nothing, and forgo billions of dollars in economic growth.

Progressive Massachusetts is highlighting one aspect of our Shared Prosperity Agenda, with members writing their perspectives on why Education, Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Wages, and Progressive Revenue are important to them.