Yesterday, the DHCFP released three eagerly anticipated reports on what is driving health care costs in Massachusetts. (That makes 7 reports so far out of Chapter 305…and there are still more to come.) These reports, required under Chapter 305 of the Acts of 2008, are part of a package that sets the stage for public hearings beginning on March 16th. The reports, along with the AG’s Report from a couple of weeks ago, provide key information into why our health care costs so much.
We would be remiss if we didn’t note that the reports, despite including a significant amount of complex data, are remarkably readable. The reports validate many of the assumptions that have been made in the payment reform discussion and remind us of key pieces of information about medical expenses, hospital admissions, and premium costs. The reports do not identify a ‘path’ to solve the health care cost problem. They don’t name names, except to distinguish between academic medical centers and community hospitals and in-Boston versus out-of-Boston academic medical centers. The reports are also a reminder that while we have begun cost containment initiatives, we are still gathering critical information to make these initiatives successful without any unintended consequences to people or our economy.
This data will likely be the centerpiece of the discussion at the public hearings that begin on March 16th as the state continues moving towards comprehensive payment reform.
To delve into the reports, read on:
Georgia Maheras
Private Market Policy Manager
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