Two posts deserving special attention over at the WBUR blog, CommonHealth:
First, Leslie Kirwan, Secretary of Administration and Finance and Chair of the Connector Board, gives an overview of the Connector’s upcoming challenges — click here. One of many money quotes:
“I was also heartened to hear “across the Board” (literally) interest in focusing on health care cost containment. The message that cost containment is essential to the success and sustainability of health reform has echoed on this blog since its creation. The Connector has a number of levers at its disposal to promote improvements in the efficiency and quality of health care, as do other parts of state government involved in the purchase and delivery of health care (for example, MassHealth and the GIC). There is great potential for collaboration between these entities (and also with non-governmental health care players) to help “bend the cost curve” in a favorable direction. Definitely more to come on this front.”
Second, Jon Hurst, President of the Retailers Association, declares war on health care costs and, in particular, the state’s insurers — click here. Big money quote:
It’s time for answers and accountability. It’s time for all payers of health care dollars (employers, consumers and taxpayers) to put big health care under the microscope and stop accepting this money grab from our pockets to theirs. We must stop putting them in positions of public policy authority and labeling them as the “experts” on health care policy, or as “important parts of the employer community.” They have taken advantage of the payers for long enough, and our future economy demands that the dollars start flowing back in the other direction.
Hurst represents the big retailers, but the bulk of his members fit into the small to tiny employer category.
Either we’re going to figure out a way to slow rising health costs collectively and collaboratively, or we’re going to end up brawling. Jon represents a class of employers on the receiving end of huge premium increases, year after year. His constituency deserves better answers and, more importantly, help.
