The core principle of the Massachusetts Medicaid demonstration waiver is an experiment in shifting from targeting government funds to health care providers to redirecting those funds to patients to help them buy insurance, write Greg D'Angelo and Edmund F. Haislmaier, for the Heritage Foundation.

As Massachusetts applies for a waiver extension for its major reform program, this policy precedent should remain in place and apply to other states requesting waivers as well, D'Angelo and Haislmaier conclude.