Commissioners also set the Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark at 3.1% for 2022; awarded $1.5 million in funding to five hospitals focused on supporting substance exposed newborns and their caregivers
While health care cost growth remains below national levels, residents with high deductible plans have trouble paying medical bills, face increased medical debt, and continue to experience unmet health care needs
Lower-income residents in the Commonwealth faced with spending a growing proportion of income on out-of-pocket health care costs, per a new analysis from the HPC examining data between 2015 – 2017.
The HPC and DPH, in collaboration with other state agencies, launch MassUP, a new investment program to address “upstream” causes of poor health outcomes and health disparities in Massachusetts
Commissioners also discussed HPC’s future work to analyze the impact of COVID-19 to support the Commonwealth’s policy response, and new MassUP investments targeting disparities
Commissioners will discuss key updates on priority policy areas including out-of-network billing and the scope of the nurse practitioner workforce in Massachusetts
HPC finds the number of virtual patient visits doubled in 2017, but overall use was well below the U.S. rate; recommends urgent policy action to expand access
Recommends greater accountability and oversight of health care providers, health plans, and the pharmaceutical market; urges scrutiny of outpatient care as well as strategies to improve primary and behavioral health care access
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission’s investment programs find significant reduction in infant length of stay, improved care for mothers and infants affected by opioid use disorder
Opioid-related hospital use in Massachusetts declined for the first time this decade between 2016 and 2017, but disparities by geography, race, and income persist
Prices Charged by Pharmacy Benefit Managers for Generic Drugs Were Often Markedly Higher Than the Actual Cost of the Drug in Both the Massachusetts Medicaid Managed Care and Commercial Plans, Contributing to Higher Health Care Spending
Findings and Recommendations Provide New Insights into Access Barriers for Patients with Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder, and Affordability Issues for Patients with Diabetes in the Commonwealth
