Health plan czar: State cuts could imperil success

Healthcare reform chief Jon Kingsdale said spending cuts enacted last week by Governor Mitt Romney eliminated funding needed to educate the public and businesses about the landmark law, potentially jeopardizing its success.

"Healthcare reform is at a vulnerable stage of needing to communicate," said Kingsdale, executive director of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority. The authority is charged with creating and selling low-cost insurance plans as part of the reform law, which seeks to extend coverage to the state's uninsured residents.

"We're facing a tsunami of ignorance and confusion," Kingsdale said yesterday at a conference on the implementation of the law. "We're disappointed that many grants to bring the message of healthcare reform to the state will not be immediately available. It's really crucial."

In particular, Kingsdale said, residents who earn less than 300 percent of the federal policy level need to know that subsidized health plans will be available Jan. 1. Also, he said , small businesses must be made aware of their responsibilities. All residents are expected to purchase health insurance starting July 1, or face penalties such as the loss of tax deductions.

Romney last week used his emergency fiscal powers to cut $425 million from the state budget. A legislative aide said as much as $2.7 million was earmarked for healthcare reform education, spread among various organizations.

In making the cuts, Romney said the state was spending too much and should not rely on money from a $2.1 billion "rainy day fund." Some legislators denounced the move as a ploy to boost Romney's presidential aspirations.

Governor-elect Deval Patrick , who attended part of yesterday's conference, said he understood the importance of informing residents about healthcare reform, but did not commit to reversing the cuts.

"I don't want to take a position on overriding individual cuts," he said. "I'll take a look and act when I can."

A large portion of the conference -- held at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and sponsored by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation -- focused on the importance of explaining healthcare reform to the public and to small businesses. Robert J. Blendon , a professor of health policy at Harvard University's School of Public health, presented findings from a poll on the healthcare law that showed more education about the legislation is needed.

"What we learned from the polls is educating the community is critical," said Andrew Dreyfus , executive vice president for health services at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. "The more people learn about the law, the more they like it."

Jeffrey Krasner can be reached at krasner@globe.com.