By Bob Katzen
The Senate 38-2, approved a bill that supporters said includes urgent reforms to the state’s health care system to boost oversight and transparency in the market, improve patient access to prescribed medication and treatment and plug holes in oversight of hospitals, especially for-profit systems like the bankrupt Steward Health Care.
The House has already approved a different version of the measure and a House-Senate conference committee will hammer out a compromise version.
Provisions in the Senate version include expanding oversight of private equity firms, real estate investment trusts and management services organizations involved with Massachusetts health care providers; requiring a new insurance carrier to honor any prior authorizations approved by a previous carrier for at least 90 days following a patient’s enrollment in the new health plan; establishing a health insurance bureau within the Division of Insurance to conduct rate reviews of premium rates for health benefit plans and disseminate information to consumers about health insurance coverage; and establishing licensing structures for certain health care providers currently not licensed, and not subject to Department of Public Health oversight, including office-based surgical centers, urgent care centers, and health care practices.
“Massachusetts is the health care capital of the world because we take seriously our responsibility to invest in and protect our systems, providers and patients,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). “As we stare down a health care market plagued by high costs and the fallout from private equity mismanagement, the Senate has doubled down on our responsibility to our residents, making us a national leader in safeguarding patients, expanding access to car and holding private equity accountable.”
“I’m pleased that the Senate has taken an expansive overhaul of the commonwealth’s struggling health care system with this regulatory redress bill,” said Sen. Mike Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “The collapse of Steward Health Care shows us that it’s now time to reform the system and make transparent the process of costs in relation to services rendered to patients. While Massachusetts is known throughout the world as providing the very best in health care, this legislation will make that care more affordable and accessible.”
Sen. Mark Pacheco (D-Taunton), one of two senators to vote against the bill, said that his vote was designed to send a message protesting the lack of action from the Legislature to prepare for the threat the Steward crisis poses to healthcare access in Massachusetts.
“Though I support provisions found in this bill, I believe it is important that the Legislature be more proactive as this Steward crisis unfolds,” said Pacheco. “Except for senators who have Steward facilities in their district, there was not an appetite to do that, and that is what led to my ‘no’ vote to protest the lack of protections the Senate bill should have required. This is a message that we are not doing enough to ensure that patients have access to the important care that these facilities should be able to provide.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill. A “No” vote is against it.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes