Health Policy Commission

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) is an independent state agency that develops policy to reduce healthcare cost growth and improve the quality of patient care. MHA engages and interacts with HPC staff and commissioners alike to ensure that our members’ perspectives are heard, taken into account and included at all stages of the HPC’s research, assessment and recommendations concerning broad healthcare cost and quality goals.
02.10.2020  | State Meets Cost Growth Benchmark
From 2017 to 2018, the state’s healthcare spending growth was 3.1% percent, precisely matching the 3.1% benchmark set in 2018.
01.27.2020  | Governor’s Budget Bill: Medicaid Rates Hold Steady
Governor Charlie Baker released his proposed FY 2021 state budget last week, and it contains, for the second year in a row, an update to MassHealth spending of less than 1%.
11.11.2019  | Senate Rx Bill Gives HPC Even More Authority
This week the state senate is expected to begin deliberations on pharmaceutical cost control legislation.
11.11.2019  | MassHealth Seeks to Expand Prior Authorizations
A new MassHealth policy that would require prior authorizations for more than 350 medical and diagnostic services is on hold for now.
10.28.2019  | Creating Paths to Sustainable Operating Margin, Mission, and Market Essentiality
This conference will look at effective current strategies for improved ROI across an enterprise.
10.28.2019  | The HPC’s Cost Trends Hearing
The state’s Health Policy Commission (HPC) held its annual cost trends hearing last Tuesday and Wednesday.
10.21.2019  | Governor Baker Lays Out Newest Health Reform Plan
Governor Charlie Baker last Friday introduced the latest legislative proposal to reform the state’s healthcare system.
10.14.2019  | Do You Have Thoughts on Healthcare-Community Partnerships?
Massachusetts is seeking input on the design of a new initiative called “Moving Massachusetts Upstream” (MassUP).
10.14.2019  | Mark Your Calendars and Register: HPC Cost-Trends Hearings
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission is holding its 2019 Health Care Cost Trends Hearing on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22 and 23.
09.16.2019  | HPC Issues Preliminary (Incomplete) Coding Analysis
The HPC released preliminary data showing that there has been an increase in high-acuity discharges from Massachusetts hospitals driven by changing coding practices.
08.19.2019  | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan Announce Merger Plan
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan, the second- and third-largest health insurers in Massachusetts, respectively, on Wednesday announced plans to merge.
07.29.2019  | HPC Releases Final Report and Recommendations on Third-Party Specialty Pharmacy Issues
At its July 24 board meeting, the Health Policy Commission (HPC) released its final report (required by Section 130 of Chapter 47 of the Acts of 2017) on the use of third party specialty pharmacies for certain clinician-administered medications.
07.01.2019  | Opioid-Related Hospital Use Down for Some, Not All
The Health Policy Commission released this report last week tracking hospital emergency department and inpatient use in the battle against the opioid use disorder.
06.24.2019  | Surprise Billing: Protect Patients, Negotiate Payments
Efforts are underway both in Washington and on Beacon Hill to help resolve the problem of “surprise billing.”
06.10.2019  | HPC Recommends Rules on White-bagging, Brown-bagging
Last week, HPC staff presented recommendations for a legislatively mandated report on insurer-compelled “brown-bagging” and “white-bagging” of pharmaceuticals that is forthcoming later this month.
04.22.2019  | MHA to House: Solidify Safety Net Funding, Addiction Treatment
The Massachusetts House of Representatives today begins debate on the proposed FY2020 state budget, and the nearly 1,400 amendments to it that have been filed.
04.15.2019  | Government & Hospitals to Pharma: Be Transparent
State and federal governments are looking into rising prescription drug prices.
04.08.2019  | Benchmark Set; Data Lags Put 2015-16 Costs in Spotlight
The Health Policy Commission (HPC) last week voted to set the statewide healthcare cost growth benchmark for calendar year 2020 at 3.1%.
03.18.2019  | HPC IDs Insulin Costs as Cost Driver
One item that stood out in the HPC’s meeting last week was the ever-increasing price of insulin.
03.18.2019  | Hospitals on Board With 3.1% Benchmark – With Caveats
The Health Policy Commission in coming months is scheduled to decide on whether the state’s healthcare cost growth benchmark – currently set at 3.1% – should remain at that level.

Resources

Click on the links below for easy access to important information related to state healthcare issues and advocacy.


Visit the Commonwealth of Massachusetts websites below to find information on legislative hearings and other meetings of interest to the healthcare community.


To guide your navigation of the legislative process and assist your advocacy efforts, please visit the following state websites: