Massachusetts is marking the 10th anniversary of a landmark health care law that later served as a model for the federal Affordable Care Act.
Republican Gov. Mitt Romney signed the law at Faneuil Hall on April 12, 2006. He was joined by Democratic leaders, including the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.
The law included subsidies for low-income residents to purchase insurance, and state officials said it led to near-universal coverage. But the state continues to struggle with rising health care costs.
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement Tuesday that Massachusetts led the country in creating the law. But he added that more work is needed "to increase accessibility and transparency for consumers."
Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg said the law has made high-quality health care more accessible to residents.
