(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission on provider price reform that shall investigate the rising cost of health care insurance and the impact of reimbursement rates paid by health insurers to providers. The commission shall examine policies aimed at enhancing competition, fairness and cost-effectiveness in the health care market though the reduction of reimbursement disparities. Any recommendations shall consider, and be consistent with, the recommendations of the special commission on payment system as authorized in section 44 of chapter 305 of the acts of 2008. (b) The commission shall consist of the secretary of administration and finance and the commissioner of health care finance and policy, who shall serve as co-chairs, the executive director of the group insurance commission, 1 person to be appointed by the senate president, 1 person to be appointed by the speaker of the house, and 5 members to be appointed by the Governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Medical Society, and 1 of whom shall be a health economist or expert in the area of payment methodology. The commission shall adopt rules and establish procedures it considers necessary for the conduct of its business. The commission may expend funds as may be appropriated or made available for its purposes. No action of the commission shall be considered official unless approved by a majority vote of the commission members. (c) The commission shall examine: (i) the variation in relative prices paid to providers within similar provider groups; (ii) the variation in costs of providers for services of comparable acuity, quality and complexity; (iii) the variation in volume of care provided at providers with low and high levels of relative prices or health status adjusted total medical expenses; (iv) the correlation between price paid to providers and (1) the quality of care, (2) the acuity of the patient population, (3) the provider's payor mix, (4) the provision of unique services, including specialty teaching services and community services, and (5) operational costs, including labor costs; (iii) the correlation between price paid to providers and, in the case of hospitals, status as a disproportionate share hospital, a specialty hospital, a pediatric specialty hospital or as an academic teaching hospital; and (v) policies to promote the use of providers with low health status adjusted total medical expenses. (d) In making its investigation, the commission shall consult with the attorney general, the health care quality and cost council, the division of health care finance and policy, health care economists, and other individuals or organizations with expertise in state and federal health care payment methodologies and reforms. The commission shall use data and recommendations gathered in the course of these consultations as a basis for its findings and recommendations. (e) The commission shall file a report of its findings and recommendations. Before a final vote on any recommendations, the commission shall consult with a reasonable variety of parties likely to be affected by its recommendations, including, but not limited to, the office of Medicaid, the division of health care finance and policy, the commonwealth health insurance connector, the Massachusetts Council of Community Hospitals, Inc., the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Inc., 1 or more academic medical centers, 1 or more hospitals with a high proportion of public payors, 1 or more Taft–Hartley plans, 1 or more self-insured plans with membership of more than 500, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, Inc. and organizations representing health care consumers. The commission shall file the report of its findings and recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and with the governor not later than September 30, 2011.
Creates a special commission on provider price reform to study rising cost trends of health insurance and the impact of reimbursement rates that health insurers pay to providers. The commission must examine policies that reduce disparities in provider reimbursement rates while enhancing competition, fairness, and cost efficiency in the health care market. Any recommendation the commission offers to the legislature must be consistent with recommendations of the Special Commission on the Health Care Payment System established in Section 44 of Chapter 305 of the Acts of 2008. The commission must consult with state agencies and other organizations with expertise in health care reform and a reasonable number of affected parties before making recommendations. The commission must submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the legislature by September 30, 2011.
Session Law added by Section 67 of Chapter 288 of the Acts of 2010; last amended by section 44 of Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2011