Steve LeBlanc

• 

  Massachusetts offers health overhaul model

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  January 23, 2013

  As other states begin grappling with the intricacies of the federal health care overhaul, many are looking for lessons from the largely successful Massachusetts model as well as from its limitations and remaining challenges.

• Massachusetts governor wants to freeze unemployment insurance rates

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  January 9, 2013

  Gov. Deval Patrick said Tuesday he will file legislation that would freeze unemployment insurance rates for Massachusetts businesses and end parts of the state's landmark 2006 health care law that is at odds with the federal Affordable Care Act.

• 

  Massachusetts gov signs health cost-containment bill

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  August 6, 2012

  Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday signed into law a bill he said should provide a model for a nation trying to stem the spiraling cost of health care.

• Massachusetts committee releases health care bill

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  July 31, 2012

  Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators have filed the final version of a bill they say will save up to $200 billion in health care costs over the next 15 years and help guarantee the future of the state's landmark 2006 health care law.

• Massachusetts health law may bode well for federal law

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  July 3, 2012

  Massachusetts has the nation's highest rate of residents with health insurance. Visits to emergency rooms are beginning to ease. More residents are getting cancer screenings and more women are making prenatal doctors' visits. Still, one of the biggest challenges for the state lies ahead: reining in spiraling costs.

• Contraception battle looms in Mass. Senate race

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  February 15, 2012

  The debate over the line between religious freedom and federal health care mandates has made its way into Massachusetts' closely watched U.S. Senate race, with Republican Sen. Scott Brown accusing his chief Democratic rival of wanting to "dictate to religious people about what they should believe."

• Mass., feds agree to $26.7B health care extension

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  December 21, 2011

  Massachusetts has struck a multi-billion dollar deal with the federal government that Gov. Deval Patrick says will help the state move ahead with plans to overhaul the way it pays for health care coverage.

• GOP Sen. Brown casts himself as bipartisan choice

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  October 11, 2011

  U.S. Sen. Scott Brown swept into office riding a wave of frustration with President Barack Obama's push for a health care overhaul and his handling of a faltering economy — a win that was also a banner victory for a nascent tea party.

• GOP Sen. Brown casts himself as bipartisan choice

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  October 11, 2011

  U.S. Sen. Scott Brown swept into office riding a wave of frustration with President Barack Obama's push for a health care overhaul and his handling of a faltering economy — a win that was also a banner victory for a nascent tea party. Now, as he gears up for a...

• Mixed job picture when Romney was Mass. governor

  By Steve LeBlanc  |  October 3, 2011

  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney frequently boasts how he and his team "were able to turn around the job losses" in Massachusetts during his single term as governor.