For my out-of-town readers who are following this: Liz Kowalczyk and Rob Weisman
report in the
Boston Globe on the next stage in
the Massachusetts story about insurance rates. Our Senate President, to her credit, has become the
de facto policy leader on this very tough issue.
I think you should give some credit to the members of the administration, business community and advocates who have served on the Quality and Cost Council and the Payment Reform Council for showing some leadership, as well. The AG also has been out in front.
ReplyDeletePartners would far better serve patients by improving care and reducing its self-admitted high costs rather than making a huge one-time bribe to keep its cost structure.
ReplyDeleteAt least the Senate Prez is focusing on 1/3 of the issue's root cause ( 3/3 = hospitals, physicians and patients). Do her "legislative proposals to help small business" include any more than a donation?
nonlocal
The AG has done a marvelous job, and the report she produced is making possible much more informed discussion on this issue. But the job of that office is less policy-making and more law enforcement, supervision of public charities, and production of useful information. In our state system, policy origination more often is expected to come from the Governor and/or the Legislature.
ReplyDeleteNonlocal,
ReplyDeleteIt is a multi-faceted approach, too long to describe here. Will try to do so in the next few days.