Bill > S579

This bill establishes a "Massachusetts Health Care Trust" to create a single-payer healthcare system in Massachusetts, aiming to provide universal, equitable, and affordable access to high-quality medical care for all residents. The Trust, governed by a 23-member board with diverse representation, will be responsible for collecting all healthcare funds and disbursing them to eligible healthcare providers and facilities. It will replace the current system of private and public insurance plans with a comprehensive plan that has no deductibles, co-payments, or co-insurance, and will cover a wide range of medical, dental, vision, and prescription services. Funding for the Trust will come from dedicated payroll taxes on employers and employees, a tax on unearned income, and consolidation of existing state and municipal healthcare spending, as well as federal funds and other collateral sources. The bill also outlines provisions for budgeting, payments to providers, quality assurance, and a transition period for implementation.