Voices in Healthcare

Jon Hurst, President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, is understandably frustrated by the large increases in health insurance premiums that his organization and other small businesses are receiving from health plans.  It is important to note, however, that hospitals are reimbursed the same amount by the health plan regardless of whether the patient works for a small mom and pop business or a large employer.  Hospitals must accept ownership for the cost issues under their control, but the significant differential between small and large group premiums is due to the way the health plans calculate those premiums and is not caused by what the providers charge.