Cost Containment

Reining in healthcare cost increases is a priority MHA and our members share with all healthcare stakeholders in the commonwealth. Find more information on MHA’s efforts and leadership on this important issue below.
02.17.2020  | Senate Passes Mental Health Parity Bill
The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a sweeping mental health reform bill last Thursday that takes a large step towards "parity."
02.17.2020  | President’s Budget Attacks Medicare & Medicaid
President Trump released his proposed FY21 budget last year and it is remarkable for the ferocity with which it attacks Medicare and Medicaid.
02.17.2020  | Ways & Means Approves Surprise Billing Legislation
Last Week, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Richard Neal (D-Mass.), passed the Surprise Medical Bills Act (H.R. 5826) by unanimous voice vote.
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.
02.10.2020  | Mid-Winter Leadership Forum: Politics, Transformation & a Tragedy that Led to Change
Approximately 350 people attended MHA’s Mid-Winter Leadership Forum last Friday – the 53rd such gathering in MHA’s 84-year history.
02.10.2020  | State of the Union Speech Includes Healthcare Priorities
President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address last Tuesday, in which he pledged to guarantee coverage for patients with pre-existing conditions, protect Medicare, and sign legislation to dramatically “lower prescription prices.”
02.03.2020  | MHA to CMS: Withdraw Drastic Proposed Medicaid Rule
MHA joins numerous organizations across the country, including AHA, in its criticism of of a new CMS Medicaid proposal.
02.03.2020  | CMS Unveils Medicaid Block Grant Proposal; Critics Pounce
The Trump Administration unveiled its newest version of Medicaid block grants last Thursday –a proposal it calls “Healthy Adult Opportunity.”
01.20.2020  | MHA Joins Supreme Court Amicus Brief to Defend ACA
MHA joined 32 other state hospital associations last Wednesday in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the ACA.
01.13.2020  | Report: Massachusetts on Right Path to Lower Healthcare Costs
Altarum – a Michigan-based healthcare consulting group – has issued a scorecard that places Massachusetts first in the nation at providing affordable healthcare.
01.13.2020  | ACA Proponents Ask for Quick Action; Justices Seem to Say, OK
The Supreme Court gave the Trump Administration and other parties opposing the ACA a quick timeline to file briefs.
12.23.2019  | Those Illegal 2019 CMS Cuts Aren’t Illegal (Yet) in 2020
Hospitals had about a week of rejoicing over a CMS decision to repay hospitals the Medicare funds it withheld relating to certain services provided at grandfathered off-campus hospital provider-based departments.
12.23.2019  | MHA to MassHealth: Use Caution When Targeting 340B Drugs
The Executive Office of Health & Human Services has released proposed regulations that would give MassHealth the authority to designate and exclude from MassHealth coverage high-cost drugs that are purchased under the 340B program.
12.23.2019  | Readmissions in Massachusetts
The unplanned readmission rate for Massachusetts acute care hospitals in 2018 was 15.4% – unchanged from the previous year.
12.16.2019  | U.S. Ways & Means Gets It Right on Surprise Billing
The U.S. House Ways & Means Committee, chaired by Massachusetts Democrat Richard Neal, announced that it has reached bipartisan agreement to resolve the “surprise billing” issue.
12.09.2019  | EOHHS Proposed Rx Rule Raises Concern
The Executive Office of Health & Human Services has issued draft regulations governing pharmacy services delivered to MassHealth patients.
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.
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.
11.04.2019  | CMS is Looking for a Few Good Advanced Primary Care Practices
CMS is pushing ahead with “Primary Care First” – a voluntary, five-year alternative payment model to reduce Medicare spending.
11.04.2019  | If You Created an Expensive Health Plan, You Can Help Pay for It
Does an insurance company bear any responsibility for the expensive, impractical policies they are selling?

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: