Tag:

Massachusetts

Latest Headlines

Latest Headlines

Documents reveal health insurance funding gap in Mass.

In Massachusetts, confidential drafty documents reveal a $415 million gap between the state and federal government's health insurance spending expectations, reports  Boston Business Journal.

Massachusetts is driving consumer-oriented focus in industry

As Massachusetts became the first state earlier this month to require insurers provide real-time prices for all covered medical services, it's leading the trend toward a more consumer-oriented healthcare insurance industry.

Massachusetts takes price transparency to next level

Massachusetts has become perhaps the first state to take the next step into price transparency, mandating health insurers to post the costs of a variety of medical procedures for their enrollees, Kaiser Health News has reported.

Narrow networks lower spending by a third, research finds

Although narrow networks aren't popular among providers and some states are even urging insurers to widen their provider lists, narrow networks can help lower healthcare costs by reducing patient spending by as much as a third, according to a new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Rise in MA healthcare spending driven by state's largest insurer, hospital chain

Spending by the largest health plan and hospital operator in Massachusetts helped drive the Bay State's overall healthcare costs well above the rate of general inflation last year, the Boston Globe reported.

Medicaid insurers struggle to pay for pricey drugs

Medicaid insurers are struggling to pay for pricey drugs, leading some to request states to increase payments so they can run their plans. Meanwhile, some states are deciding restrict the expensive medications.

Most docs support medical marijuana, but need training

As the legalization of medical marijuana expands, most U.S. physicians agree it has clinical benefits, but want more information on the medical science of cannabis and how it may help their patients, according to a survey of 1,544 doctors from  WebMD  and  Medscape.

Hospitals receive millions in grants to improve health IT efforts

Sixty-one hospitals and community health centers across Massachusetts will split $23 million in grants provided by MassHealth--and may of those facilities are getting funds to improve health IT.

Poll illustrates need for healthcare cost comparison tools

Most Massachusetts residents (75 percent) don't know insurers must provide price information for various medical services, The Boston Globe reported.

Massachusetts gov signs nurse ratio bill

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass.) Monday signed a bill into law mandating nurse staffing levels in Bay State intensive care units, according to  Littler Mendelson.