Evaluation of the Massachusetts health care cost growth target program
The Peterson Center on Healthcare partnered with Gates Ventures and Mathematica to analyze the successes and challenges of the nation’s first healthcare cost framework. The resulting report, Massachusetts Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark and Accountability Mechanisms: Stakeholder Perspectives, offers insights to guide successful cost growth control efforts, including continuous monitoring of market trends and stakeholder engagement.
In 2012, Massachusetts enacted Chapter 224, making it the first state in the country to establish a benchmark for healthcare cost growth. The law set statewide targets for the annual growth rate of healthcare spending and established the Health Policy Commission (HPC), which monitors and promotes compliance with the newly established benchmarks.
In 2021-2022, researchers interviewed nearly 50 stakeholders involved in or affected by the Massachusetts healthcare cost growth benchmark initiative.
The resulting report and accompanying policy brief shares findings from the study, including lessons learned and considerations for state policymakers about the design and use of accountability mechanisms to meet a health care cost growth benchmark.
States Advance Healthcare Affordability Amidst Uncertainty
Amidst uncertainty about how federal health policies will evolve, states continue to lead the charge to improve healthcare affordability.
Ending Health Care’s Affordability Crisis Begins With Actions to Fix State Markets
Caroline Pearson emphasizes the benefits of states being able to more easily engage with local employers, healthcare providers, and payers.
States Setting Health Care Spending Growth Targets Experienced Accelerated Growth in 2021
This article examines health care spending growth trends and the key factors driving those trends in 5 states in 2021.