The 4,000 member employers of Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) believe that the Baker Administration’s proposal to impose a $2,000-per-employee tax on some employers is an unfair way to close a deficit in MassHealth.

The proposal would force employers to foot the bill for a problem they did not create. The $600 million shortfall at Masshealth, which provides health insurance to 1.9 million low-income Massachusetts residents, is attributable solely to problems arising from the federal Affordable Care Act, a law that may well be repealed by the time Massachusetts solves its Medicaid problems

AIM acknowledges that the ACA-generated deficit at MassHealth is not the creation or responsibility of the Baker Administration.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made access to health insurance an entitlement based on expanded income eligibility.  Under the Massachusetts health care reform law of 2006, employees who were offered employer-sponsored health insurance were ineligible for MassHealth.  The ACA reversed that policy and allowed employees to decline employer coverage and still seek insurance through MassHealth.

The change created a migration of newly-eligible individuals from their employer-sponsored insurance to MassHealth, substantially increasing the commonwealth’s financial burden.  ACA made it an economically rational choice for eligible residents.

As MassHealth enrollment grows, the commonwealth experiences the reality that employers have faced for years – the high cost of health care coverage in this state threatens the underpinnings of the state economy.  This challenging moment underscores the fact that policymakers have concentrated too heavily on access issues instead of controlling the cost of health insurance, and now face a renewed imperative to lower costs for everyone in Massachusetts.

State House News Service reports that the administration plan would impose a $2,000 fee for all full-time workers – defined as someone who works 35 hours or more – upon businesses that don’t cover at least 80 percent of their workers and share at least 60 percent of the premium cost with employees.

The employer assessment, which would bring an estimated $300 million into state coffers, represents a revival of the so-called fair share contribution plan that was a linchpin of the 2006 universal health care law in Massachusetts before it was repealed to make way for the federal Affordable Care Act. The state employer mandate was repealed in 2013 as lawmakers and former Gov. Deval Patrick worked to bring Massachusetts into compliance with the ACA.

There are positive elements to the administration’s proposal as well. AIM supports a freeze on new mandated health-insurance benefits and a cap on provider rates.

AIM recognizes that the administration’s proposal is the opening bid in what will be a protracted debate. We look forward to productive discussions with the administration and the Legislature to find a solution that does not wreak irreparable harm on the Massachusetts economy.