It looks like the provision Kerry wanted that saved MA an estimated 6% is in the HRC bill

[karynnj]

When the bill was marked up in the SFRC this seemed a nobrainer, but Baucus said it had not been scored. The idea was to allow the the exchange to provide information on the plans and to negotiate with the insurers. The plan now is that the exchanges are at state level. Unless this just grandfather's MA's plan, this is now an option for every state.

Here is the Boston Globe article:

WASHINGTON - Senator John F. Kerry’s office said yesterday that Kerry helped make sure that under the health care bill the Senate will begin debating today, Massachusetts could continue operating the Health Insurance Connector that is considered a linchpin of the state’s landmark 2006 health reform law.

The Massachusetts Connector, which provides one-stop shopping for insurance and negotiates with insurers to obtain the best deals for consumers, has helped to keep premiums down and eliminate the confusion involved in buying insurance.

<snip>
Earlier proposals would have left the Connector’s future in question or potentially weakened its powers to negotiate with insurers, which have saved consumers an estimated 6 percent on premiums. The bill passed by the House would also let the Connector continue operating independently.

Kerry, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, one of two Senate panels with jurisdiction over the health care bill, also helped block efforts to reduce Medicare payments to doctors in urban areas, and he helped turn back a Medicare rule adversely affecting most hospitals in Massachusetts. He also helped ensure that the bill would let Massachusetts keep a pot of federal Medicaid money it uses to help pay for its subsidized insurance program for low-income people, Commonwealth Care.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/11/21/senate_bill_keeps_a_place_for_mass_connector/

Here is a Prosense thread that has the desription of what Kerry asked for. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=433&topic_id=1717

As, this saved MA customers an estimated 6% and the cadillac health care plans were said to be one of the few cost containment features, Kerry's work on this bill was very important.