Lawmakers may be taking another crack at a major new Massachusetts health finance reform measure.
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney used line-item veto powers to cut a dental benefits provision, a business penalty provision and several other sections Wednesday before signing the bill, H.B. 4479.
H.B. 4479 could end up requiring most individuals and most employers with 11 or more employees to maintain health coverage.
The bill also could expand public insurance programs aimed at low-income residents; create new health insurance subsidies, to help moderate-income residents buy health coverage; impose a temporary moratorium on the creation of new benefits mandates; help young adults stay on their parents’ health insurance plans; and create a system of penalties and incentives to promote compliance with the insurance purchasing requirements.
But leaders of the Massachusetts House and Senate are criticizing Romney’s editing of the bill and suggesting that lawmakers may try to override the changes.
The version of the bill that lawmakers sent Romney, H.B. 4850, passed 154-2 in the House and 37-0.