- Health Policy Commission
- Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
Media Contact for HPC TO RELEASE FINDINGS FROM NEW ANALYSIS ON POTENTIAL IMPACT OF NURSE STAFFING RATIOS TO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Matthew Kitsos, Press Secretary
Boston — Monday, September 24, 2018 – The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) announced today that it will present new findings from an analysis on the potential cost impact of mandated nurse staffing ratios on hospitals, non-hospital settings that employ registered nurses (RN), and the Commonwealth as a whole. The new analysis will be presented publicly for the first time at the upcoming meeting of the HPC’s Market Oversight and Transparency (MOAT) Committee on October 3, 2018. The HPC examined California’s experience with a mandated nurse staffing ratio law, the Commonwealth’s current RN workforce and staffing at Massachusetts hospitals, and estimated costs associated with mandated ratios.
“The mandating of nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in Massachusetts could have a significant impact on health care costs, quality, and access in the state. For this reason the Health Policy Commission (HPC) has developed its own assessment of the potential cost and quality implications if such a measure were to become state law," said Stuart H. Altman, HPC Chair. “This type of analysis is consistent with the HPC’s role as an independent watchdog of health care costs, quality, and access in the state. The results of this analysis will be discussed at the HPC’s upcoming hearing on health care cost trends on October 16 and 17.”
The HPC is dedicating a portion of the upcoming Annual Health Care Cost Trends Hearing to the topic. The Cost Trends Hearing is a two-day public event featuring live testimony from top health care providers, industry leaders, and government officials. A presentation of the HPC’s findings developed by two leading academic experts on nursing workforce issues is planned for the event, followed by a panel discussion featuring participants with varied perspectives and expertise on the issue. The full agenda for the hearing is below, and can be found on the HPC’s website, here. Witnesses will be announced in October, and all times are subject to confirmation.
“The purpose of the annual cost trends hearing is to engage in an informed discussion of the top policy issues in health care,” added David M. Seltz, HPC Executive Director. “We hope that this fair, objective analysis and subsequent panel discussion will positively contribute to the policy dialogue on this important issue.”
The HPC received extensive feedback from Massachusetts health care providers and health plans, including through pre-filed testimony in advance of the cost trends hearing, on the impacts of mandatory staffing ratios on health care spending. A majority of organizations identified the issue as a top factor regarding the Commonwealth’s ability to meet the 3.1% health care cost growth benchmark.
HPC staff and expert consultants will present the analysis at the MOAT meeting on October 3, 2018. The analysis will also be a featured research presentation at the 6th Annual Health Care Cost Trends Hearings, to be held on October 16 and 17, 2018, at Suffolk University Law School (120 Tremont Street, Boston).
The 6th Annual Health Care Cost Trends Hearing is a public event at which policymakers and researchers convene to discuss challenges and opportunities in improving care and reducing costs in the Commonwealth. At the prominent two-day hearing, Massachusetts and national health care experts will examine the state's performance under the health care cost growth benchmark, the drivers of health care costs, and other health care reform efforts. The hearing will include remarks by Governor Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, Ms. Trish Riley, Executive Director, National Academy for State Health Policy, and a keynote address by Dr. Ashish Jha, Director, Harvard Global Health Institute, a nationally recognized health policy expert who will speak on national trends in health care spending as compared to other high-income countries.
6th Annual Health Care Cost Trends Hearing
October 16, 2018 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
October 17, 2018 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Suffolk University Law School
First Floor Function Room
120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108
October 16, 2018
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
Dr. Stuart Altman, Chair, and Mr. David Seltz, Executive Director, Health Policy Commission
The Honorable Charlie Baker, Governor
The Honorable Robert DeLeo, Speaker of the House
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
PRESENTATION: STATE PERSPECTIVE ON HEALTH CARE COST TRENDS
Mr. Ray Campbell, Executive Director, Center for Health Information and Analysis
Dr. David Auerbach, Director of Research and Cost Trends, Health Policy Commission
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Ashish Jha, MD, MPH, Director, Harvard Global Health Institute
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
WITNESS PANEL: MEETING THE HEALTH CARE COST GROWTH BENCHMARK – TOP TRENDS IN CARE DELIVERY AND PAYMENT REFORM
This panel will discuss strategies to meet the health care cost growth benchmark in 2019 and beyond by tackling issues such as the scalability of innovations in care delivery, the lack of uptake in alternative payment methods, high levels of spending on pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and the future of the Massachusetts health care system.
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
LUNCH BREAK
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
WITNESS PANEL: INNOVATIONS TO ENHANCE TIMELY ACCESS TO PRIMARY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE
The goal of this panel is to showcase emerging models of enhancing patient access to high-quality, convenient health care, especially behavioral health care and care for vulnerable populations. Focus areas will include: the growth in urgent care centers, including urgent behavioral health care, telemedicine, digital health technology solutions, mobile-integrated health, and other strategies to engage patients in care in the community, and reduce unnecessary emergency department and hospital utilization.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
PUBLIC TESTIMONY OPPORTUNITY
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
WRAP UP AND ADJOURNMENT
October 17, 2018
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
Dr. Stuart Altman, Chair, and Mr. David Seltz, Executive Director, Health Policy Commission
The Honorable Maura Healey, Attorney General
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
PRESENTATION: THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
SPOTLIGHT ON STATE SOLUTIONS TO HEALTH CARE SPENDING
Ms. Trish Riley, Executive Director, National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP)
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM
REACTION PANEL: STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS PHARMACEUTICAL SPENDING GROWTH
Building off the preceding expert presentation, the goal of this panel is to discuss emerging policies and strategies that can be implemented at the state level to promote greater affordability and value in pharmaceutical spending. Focus areas will include: enhancing the transparency of pharmaceutical prices, promoting value-based contracting and pricing, establishing high-value formularies, improving consumer affordability, supporting innovation, and understanding the role of pharmacy benefit managers.
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
SPOTLIGHT ON IMPACT OF NURSE STAFFING RATIOS
1:30 PM – 2:45 PM
REACTION PANEL: IMPACT OF NURSE STAFFING RATIOS ON COST, QUALITY, AND ACCESS
Building off the preceding expert presentation, the goal of this panel is to discuss the implications of mandated nurse staffing ratios for health care spending in the Commonwealth. Topics will include evidence and experience of implementing hospital nurse staffing ratios in California, and the potential impact on health care cost, quality, and access in Massachusetts.
2:45 PM – 3:00 PM
CONCLUDING DISCUSSION
3:00 PM
ADJOURNMENT
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The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) is an independent state agency that develops policy to reduce health care cost growth and improve the quality of patient care. The HPC's mission is to advance a more transparent, accountable, and innovative health care system through its independent policy leadership and investment programs. The HPC’s goal is better health and better care – at a lower cost – across the Commonwealth.
Visit us at Mass.gov/HPC. Tweet us @Mass_HPC.
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Media Contact for HPC TO RELEASE FINDINGS FROM NEW ANALYSIS ON POTENTIAL IMPACT OF NURSE STAFFING RATIOS TO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Health Policy Commission
