Massachusetts leaders nip, tuck healthcare policy

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has signed into law one of the nation's strictest limits on gifts given to medical professionals by drug salespeople, the most contentious measure contained in a broad package intended to improve healthcare safety and curb skyrocketing costs. The new law also provides $25 million to promote electronic medical record-keeping, requires the state university to graduate more primary care doctors, and gives regulators the power to hold hearings when health insurers want to raise premiums.