Moving the Needle on Healthcare Cost Containment & Reform
Today, Pioneer Institute submitted recommendations to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Special Senate Committee on Health Care Cost Containment and Reform. Pioneer applauds provisions of the proposed legislation that would reduce emergency room use and re-admissions, expand scope of practice, and embrace telemedicine. The Committee should also be commended for looking to other states’ accomplishments in this area.
But the current bill raises some concerns. In some instances, we believe it diminishes the potential for greater cost savings by adding unnecessary regulatory burdens. The projected savings relative to 2020 spending are quite modest, at less than 0.2 percent. The Medicaid buy-in program as it is presented is a radical change from the existing program structure – it will require more elaboration and analysis, as it is unclear what the impact of this proposal will be on MassHealth and providers across the Commonwealth. Pioneer also has concerns that the bill could lead to harmful unintended consequences, such as the collapse of the merged private insurance market. We hope the Legislature addresses these issues, but this bill starts an important healthcare cost conversation in Massachusetts, and we commend the Senate for taking the lead in this effort. Read Pioneer’s full letter to the Committee.
Get Updates On Our Healthcare Research and Events!
Related Research
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Connector.png
248
244
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2014-01-13 09:14:182014-01-13 09:14:18General Court Silent On Connector Meltdown: Connector Playing Whac-A-Mole With Enrollment
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Quick-Care-Billboard-signWalk-In-Medical-Clinic-Tifton-Georgia.jpg
753
1600
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-12-18 10:57:512013-12-18 10:57:51One Small Step Toward Consumer-Oriented Reform in Massachusetts Healthcare
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/hitting-a-wall.png
550
366
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-11-21 15:46:112013-11-21 16:35:42“Barrier-Free Care”: An Idea That Should Hit the Wall in Committee
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Obama-Thinking.jpg
371
660
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-10-29 12:09:002014-02-03 14:29:20In Pictures: 15 Facts Pres. Obama Needs To Know About Mass.’s Healthcare Reform
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-10-28 13:59:402013-10-28 13:59:40ACA Comes to Massachusetts: Post #1: 40% Premium Increase and Higher Co-pays On the Connector
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-10-25 10:14:272013-10-25 10:14:27More Americans In 3 States Have Had Their Insurance Canceled Under ObamaCare Than Have Filed An Exchange Account In All 50
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/ClinicGraphic31.jpg
703
1223
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2013-10-17 09:46:482020-06-17 20:15:32Why Boston’s Ban on Convenient Care Clinics Is Costing Taxpayers Millions
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Oct-1-Connector-on-Twitter.png
440
573
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-10-08 13:44:342013-10-08 13:44:34Mass Health Connector 2.0: Limited Function and Unable to Provide Subsidy and Medicaid Information
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/CharterPhoto.jpg
424
637
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-10-01 22:19:002013-10-01 22:19:00Healthcare.gov Crashes During First Day, Why Massachusetts Never Had This Problem
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/stethoscope-silhouette-of-heart.jpg
1501
2001
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2013-09-19 15:03:002013-09-19 15:06:48Archambault to Become Pioneer Senior Fellow, Work on Medicaid Reform Outside MA
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/ACA-Info-short.jpg
898
1800
Editorial Staff
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Editorial Staff2013-09-05 09:55:192020-06-17 20:15:40ACA Medicare Payroll Tax Costs MA $1.7B Over 10 Years; 3 Patriots to Pay $707,850 in 2013
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-08-20 14:13:202013-08-20 14:13:20Will ACA Cause Rate Shock in Massachusetts? It Appears So, Small Biz To See Premiums Rise Up to 97%
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
0
0
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-08-16 13:34:382013-08-16 14:00:20Do Insurer Rate Filings Tell Us About the ACA/Obamacare in Mass? Not really
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Medicare.jpg
1415
2123
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-07-17 10:58:032013-07-18 14:16:57Promising State “Duals” Pilot (One Care), Late and Losing Carriers
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/unanswered-questions.jpeg
375
500
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-06-19 05:00:582013-06-20 15:27:5910 Questions About ACA/Obamacare Implementation in Massachusetts That Need to be Answered
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/rollercoaster.jpg
722
962
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-06-17 14:37:302013-06-18 15:31:08ACA Premium Roller Coaster for Small Business Coming to Massachusetts
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/broken_cable.jpg
282
425
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-06-03 09:00:312013-05-31 16:10:0660% of MA Docs Will Not Meet Ch224 Electronic Medical Record Mandate
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Top-Secret.jpg
1935
1807
Joshua Archambault
https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png
Joshua Archambault2013-05-22 15:14:132013-05-22 15:14:13Update and Public Statement on Continued Lack of Transparency on the Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Massachusetts
