About the HPC
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) is committed to better health and better care – at a lower cost – for all residents of the Commonwealth. Through market oversight, data-driven analysis, and independent policy insights, our goal is to make health care more affordable, transparent, and equitable.
The HPC's Role
Learn about the history of the HPC and the meaning behind the HPC logo.
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) is an independent state agency charged with monitoring health care cost trends and making policy recommendations to improve the affordability of health care for all residents of the Commonwealth.
The HPC:
Creates meaningful accountability for moderating health care spending growth by setting the annual health care cost growth benchmark and assessing the performance of the health care system to meet this measurable goal.
Oversees the changing Massachusetts health care provider market to identify and respond to market failures, and to provide independent analysis of the impact of health care market changes on cost, quality, access, and equity to the public and other key health regulators.
Issues data-informed, actionable policy recommendations necessary to reduce health care cost growth, promote affordability, and advance equity and to guide the future of health care reform in Massachusetts and the U.S.
Produces reliable, objective research and reporting to the public, the health care market, and to policymakers on health care issues that touch all residents of the Commonwealth, including trends in health care costs, consumer affordability, health care workforce, and health disparities.
Provides transparency on the structure and functioning of Massachusetts health care providers by collecting and disseminating key information through provider organization registration and certification processes.
Ensures patient access to needed health care by safeguarding the rights of health insurance consumers and patients regarding coverage and care decisions by health plans and certain provider organizations
Invests in innovative care models that engage hospitals, community-based organizations, and community members in delivering high-quality health care that is affordable, accessible, and equitable.
Key Activities and Functions
Learn more about Health Care Cost Containment, Market Oversight and Monitoring, and Care Delivery Transformation at the HPC.
Established in 2012, the agency maintains a permanent staff to fulfill its statutory responsibilities and is accountable to an 11-member Board of Commissioners. HPC staff and commissioners work collaboratively to oversee and improve the performance of the Massachusetts health care system.
In January 2025, two new health care laws were enacted to strengthen health care market oversight, address rising prescription drug costs, and enhance the transparency and accountability of the Commonwealth’s health care system. This significant legislation expands the HPC’s oversight authority, including the establishment of two new offices within the agency: the Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis and the Office of Health Resource Planning.
Key responsibilities of the organization include:
- Setting the health care cost growth benchmark
- Assessing and enforcing provider and payer performance relative to the health care cost growth benchmark
- Issuing data-informed, actionable policy recommendations to improve health care affordability and guide the future of health care reform in Massachusetts
- Analyzing the impact of health care market mergers, acquisitions, and other transactions on cost, quality, access, and equity
- Serving as the hub of expertise on pharmaceutical drug policy in Massachusetts, providing policy recommendations based on pharmaceutical data and drug affordability and access analysis
- Evaluating the supply and distribution of health care resources across the Commonwealth, using robust data analysis and strategic planning to promote the alignment of resources with population needs
- Conducting research and making data-informed policy recommendations to strengthen the behavioral health workforce in Massachusetts
- Collecting and disseminating key information about the structure and functioning of Massachusetts health care providers through the Registration of Provider Organizations
- Creating care delivery standards for Accountable Care Organizations
- Investing in innovative care models
- Administering independent external reviews of insurer medical necessity denials and risk-based provider organization decisions, as well as open enrollment waivers
The HPC also co-chairs two legislatively-mandated task forces in the Commonwealth: the Primary Care Access, Delivery, and Payment Task Force, charged with issuing recommendations to stabilize and improve primary care access, delivery, and payment; and the Maternal Health Access and Birthing Patient Safety Task Force, charged with reporting on the availability of maternal health services, financial investment in maternal health care, and the impact of past essential services closures.
HPC Leadership
Board
Meet the Board of Commissioners.
The work of the HPC is overseen by an 11-member Board of Commissioners, appointed as individual experts by elected constitutional officers, the Governor, Attorney General, and State Auditor.
Senior Leadership
Meet the Leadership.
Under the leadership of the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director, HPC staff are divided into six departments, each working on focused areas as well as collaborative, cross-agency projects.
Advisory Council
Meet the Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council to the HPC is a wide-ranging group of health care leaders, appointed by the Executive Director, who meet regularly to discuss and advise on the HPC’s mission and work and issues of health policy facing the Commonwealth.
Contact Information
Address
Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC)
50 Milk Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109
Note that the building entrance is located on Devonshire Street.
Email
Phone
Online