Medical mistakes no longer billable in Massachusetts

Hospitals and doctors who make medical mistakes will no longer be able to bill the state of Massachusetts or its largest private health insurer for costs related to fixing the error, according to policies outlined separately by the state government and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The state and Blue Cross policies apply to 28 types of surgical, medication, and other errors, and the policy changes by the state are part of a national effort to reduce healthcare errors. Analysts said the move to restrict reimbursements represents the boldest attempt by any state to use payments to reduce life-threatening errors that are considered preventable.