Provider Prices

Cost Benchmark vs. Health Insurance Premiums: What’s the Difference?

Report: Assessing the Financial Health of Massachusetts Hospitals

May 1, 2019
Re-examining the Health Care Cost Drivers and Trends in the Commonwealth — A Review of State Reports (2008–2018)

Over the last ten years, dozens of state reports have examined the factors behind rising health care costs in our state. This analysis revisits the findings of our previous report, published in 2016. We highlight common findings among state agency reports, concluding that provider prices remain the most significant factor driving health care costs, challenging the affordability of health care for consumers and employers and the state’s ability to meet the cost benchmark.

Provider Price Variation and Health Costs in MA — an Analysis of State and National Data

Provider price variation in Massachusetts is more extreme than nearly all other U.S. markets.  Disparities grow as providers consolidate and volume shifts to higher cost providers, resulting in higher health care costs for employers and consumers.  The review examines how market-based efforts have fared and suggests potential short-term regulatory efforts to address this issue.