Voices in Healthcare

In these difficult economic times, the Massachusetts legislature has done laudable work to provide meaningful insurance rate relief to small businesses that is also consistent with comprehensive, long-term reform of the healthcare delivery and payment systems. The health reform legislation passed over the weekend is a responsible compromise that moves the Commonwealth's healthcare reform effort forward without stalling or de-stabilizing our healthcare-based economic engine.

If signed by the Governor, the legislature's proposal will help healthcare stakeholders build upon the progress hospitals have already made in bending the curve of cost increases – down 65 percent from 2008 to 2009.  But that progress is matched by concern that many vulnerable hospitals, including those who serve large financially distressed populations, are in need of greater support.

The compromise legislation has some positive elements – including expansion of transparency requirements, standardization of insurers' Medical Loss Ratios moving to 90 percent, and administrative simplification of the healthcare system.

Hospitals also support the legislation's provisions to establish limited open enrollment periods for individuals seeking health care coverage, moral obligation bond financing to support community hospitals and community health centers, and a piloted approach to small business purchasing collaboratives.

The hospital community advocated for many of the measures included in the final bill with state legislative and executive leaders. But comprehensive, long-lasting payment and delivery reform remain the only real solutions to sustain the progress we have all made in improving access to quality care while ensuring that such care is affordable. Hospitals are eager to get to continue their work on these latest important changes as we all collaboratively and thoughtfully progress toward our common goal of comprehensive healthcare reform.