Kerry in Boston today at Children's Hospital

[karynnj]

Senator John F. Kerry returned in between votes to Massachusetts today to declare that the bill the Senate is about to pass would reward, rather than penalize, the state for leading by passing its own health reform in 2006.

"We are on the verge of passing health insurance reform legislation that will put patients ahead of profits and will protect rather than penalize Massachusetts for already having led the nation in reform. The Majority Leader has agreed to include a provision that will provide Massachusetts with additional federal funds for Medicaid for the next three calendar years -- roughly $500 million -- that's half a billion dollars more than we otherwise would have had. And our congressional delegation has worked closely with Senator Reid to make sure Massachusetts' reforms are not only protected, but are enhanced," Kerry said during a visit to Children's Hospital Boston.

Since Massachusetts passed its bill in 2006, requiring individuals to get health insurance, more than 400,000 residents have been added to the insured rolls, giving the state the lowest rate of uninsured at 2.7 percent. Several elements of the Massachusetts law have been incorporated into the bills working their way through Congress.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/12/kerry_says_heal.html