Health Reform 2.0: Cost and Quality
The primary goal of the 2006 Massachusetts health reform law was to achieve nearly universal health coverage. The second phase of health reform, which started two years later, is aimed at containing health care costs while improving quality and patient safety.
The Interactive Guide to Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2010
The Foundation’s interactive guide to this law – which was passed to help address the problem of rising health insurance premiums for small businesses – includes up-to-date text, section-by-section summaries as well as links to relevant reports, state agencies and final regulations.
Summary of Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2010
Massachusetts Hospital Association’s original section-by-section review of the law. (August 2010)
Chapter 305 of the Acts of 2008
Text of “An Act to Promote Cost Containment, Transparency, and Efficiency in the Delivery of Quality Healthcare.”
Summary of Chapter 305 of the Acts of 2008
Health Care For All’s overview of the law. (August 2008)
Health Care Quality and Cost Council
Information on council established through the health reform law, designed to establish goals for improving health care quality, containing health care costs, and reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health care.
Expert Panel on Performance Measurement
State website for a Health Care Quality and Cost Council committee, working to enhance the Council’s consumer website, track progress in improving health care quality, and inform providers and policy makers.
MyHealthCareOptions
Website developed by the Council to help consumers learn about the quality, safety, and cost of care provided by Massachusetts hospitals and medical groups.
Committee on the Status of Payment Reform Legislation
State website dedicated to work of a Health Care Quality and Cost Council sub-committee, charged with examining payment reform legislation.
Massachusetts Health Care Cost Trends
State website with reports, hearing testimony and recommendations from the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy on the annual growth in health care costs in Massachusetts.
Public Perceptions of Health Care Costs in Massachusetts: A Report for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation
Health Care Spending in Massachusetts: Is It a Crisis or Is It Critical?
Educational slide deck by Sarah Iselin, BCBSMA Foundation President, on health care costs in Massachusetts. Originally published on WBUR’s CommonHealth blog with accompanying audio presentation. (August 2011)
2011 Examination of Health Care Cost Trends and Cost Drivers
Report from the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General examining total medical expenditures by provider, as well as the relationship between medical spending and member income level. See 2010 report here. (June 2011)
Preventable Hospitalization and Emergency Services in Massachusetts
Presentation by the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy on potentially avoidable utilization of medical services, 2006-2008. (July 2010)
Small Group Health Premiums in Massachusetts
Report from the Massachusetts Division of Insurance assessing a wide variety of policy options to address rising health insurance costs for the small group market. (July 2010)
Small Group Health Purchasing Cooperatives
Report from the Massachusetts Division of Insurance on three months of stakeholder discussions about open-access, health insurance purchasing cooperatives, also known as Association Health Plans. (July 2010)
The Health Care Cost Challenge and Policy Recommendations for Massachusetts
Overview of ten recommendations by the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy for immediate and longer-term strategies to mitigate health care cost growth. (June 2010)
Recommendations of the Special Commission on the Health Care Payment System
Final report of the Special Commission on the Health Care Payment System, which was charged with investigating and making recommendations on reforms that would encourage the provision of efficient and effective patient-centered care. (July 2009)
Roadmap to Cost Containment
Final report of the state's Health Care Quality and Cost Council (HCQCC) recommending strategies for sustainably containing cost growth in Massachusetts' health care. (November 2009)
State Reform Dominates Boston Health Care Market Dynamics
Report from the Center for Studying Health System Change on the impact of Boston’s teaching hospitals on health care spending, rate reviews in the small group market, and the changing nature of the health care safety net. (September 2010)
Controlling Health Care Spending in Massachusetts: An Analysis of Options
Report prepared by The RAND Corporation for the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy assessing cost containment strategies and their potential effect on the health care system in Massachusetts. (August 2009)
Massachusetts Health Reform: Solving The Long-Run Cost Problem
John Holahan and Linda Blumberg from the Urban Institute authored this issue brief published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation which outlines four different options Massachusetts could undertake to address the higher than anticipated costs associated with health reform. The brief also makes recommendation for altering parts of the individual mandate and the structure of the insurance subsidy. (January 2009)
Expert Panel on End of Life Care
State website for a panel convened by EOHHS, to investigate and study health care delivery for a patient's end of life care with serious chronic illnesses.
Office of Health Equity
State website of Department of Public Health office designed to promote the health and well being of racial, ethnic and linguistic minority populations throughout the Commonwealth.
Division of Health Care Quality
State website for a division of the Department of Public Health designed to license and certify health facilities and investigate complaints.
Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction
Clearinghouse for the development, evaluation, and dissemination of best practices for patient safety and medical error reduction.
Healthcare Associated Infections Reporting
Website with variety of research and publications regarding infections reporting.
Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
Website of an independent, non-profit organization that compiles and publishes comparative performance data on clinical quality and the patient experience at primary care physician groups in Massachusetts.