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MA legislator seeks cuts to highest health payments

The Boston Globe, September 6, 2011
Ronald Mariano, the Massachusetts House majority leader, planned to file legislation today that would force insurers to cut payments to the most expensive hospitals and doctors, a bold proposal that is likely to meet opposition from many providers. The amount the insurers saved would be used to increase payments to the lowest-paid hospitals and doctors, and to reduce health insurance premiums for employers and consumers. Mariano, a Quincy Democrat, said his plan could shave roughly $267 million off premiums, based on a previous analysis by Governor Deval Patrick's staff. "There is a wide discrepancy between the 'have' hospitals and the 'have-not' hospitals," Mariano said. "This is an attempt to focus that discussion." Given the general resistance in Massachusetts to government regulation of the prices charged by medical providers, Mariano's plan is assured to be controversial. Lynn Nicholas, president of the Massachusetts Hospital Association, said her members acknowledge that price disparities exist in the state, as they do nationwide, but members do not believe the difference is severe enough to warrant aggressive government intervention into private contracts.

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2 comments on "MA legislator seeks cuts to highest health payments"


Chloe (9/9/2011 at 7:32 PM)
What insurance company is paying Mariano off? Do these bureaucrats really think we're that stupid? He wants to "force" insurance companies to reduce their payments to "overpaid" doctors and hospitals?? Seriously?? FORCE them? Right I can hear the teeth gnashing and the hand wringing already! What kind of lunacy is this?? Oh yeah, and the insurance companies are SURELY going to use that money that they no longer have to pay to providers (who, by the way actually PROVIDE care. Something of value. Unlike the disease management losers, quality (low cost) care police, disruptive physician (anyone who dares have an opinion) hunters, EHR shills, and patient "experience" mavens who are filling their pockets and giving nothing of value. This is sad and pathetic.

Chloe (9/9/2011 at 7:31 PM)
What insurance company is paying Mariano off? Do these bureaucrats really think we're that stupid? He wants to "force" insurance companies to reduce their payments to "overpaid" doctors and hospitals?? Seriously?? FORCE them? Right I can hear the teeth gnashing and the hand wringing already! What kind of lunacy is this?? Oh yeah, and the insurance companies are SURELY going to use that money that they no longer have to pay to providers (who, by the way actually PROVIDE care. Something of value. Unlike the disease management losers, quality (low cost) care police, disruptive physician (anyone who dares have an opinion) hunters, EHR shills, and patient "experience" mavens who are filling their pockets and giving nothing of value. This is sad and pathetic.