Advisory Council Meetings
The Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) comprises a broad cross-section of leaders from the state’s health care community, convened regularly by the HPC to discuss the most important health policy issues of the day and advise the HPC on its mission to make health care more affordable, transparent, and equitable for all residents of the Commonwealth. First convened in 2013, the Advisory Council provides an opportunity for open dialogue and engagement among health care industry experts and stakeholders which, in turn, informs the work of the HPC in meaningful ways.
The goal of the Advisory Council is to enhance the HPC’s robust policy agenda by incorporating Council members’ varied perspectives on the issues facing the Massachusetts health care system, patients and families, and employers.
The Advisory Council supports the agency’s work by:
- Providing input on the HPC’s operations and policy initiatives;
- Contributing feedback on proposed investment priorities;
- Facilitating connections between HPC staff, HPC commissioners, and health care industry participants and stakeholders; and
- Serving as a network for communicating the HPC’s work to the larger community.
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Annual Health Care Cost Trends Hearings
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) holds the Health Care Cost Trends Hearing each year to examine the drivers of health care costs and consider the challenges and opportunities for improving the Massachusetts health care system.
The annual public hearing features live testimony from top health care executives and industry leaders, with questions posed by the HPC’s Board of Commissioners about the state’s performance under the Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark and the status of health care reform efforts.
Since 2012, pre-filed written testimony has afforded the HPC an opportunity to engage more deeply with Massachusetts health care market participants. State law requires the HPC to seek testimony from a cross-section of the market, including providers (e.g., acute care hospitals, community health centers, physician organizations), health plans, and municipalities. Beginning in 2025, pre-filed testimony is also required from pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), significant equity investors, real estate investment trusts (REITs) and management services organizations (MSOs). All written testimony is a public record and is posted with the materials for the hearing.
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Benchmark Hearings
Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012 established a first-in-the-nation target for sustainable health care spending growth in Massachusetts. The health care cost growth benchmark is a statewide target for the rate of growth of total health care expenditures that is set by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC).
The HPC hosts an annual Health Care Cost Growth Benchmark Hearing in conjunction with the state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. At the hearing, the HPC Board and committee members review testimony, data, and feedback from health care market participants, stakeholders, and other interested parties regarding the state’s performance against the benchmark. This includes findings from the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis’ (CHIA) annual report on total health care expenditures growth in the Commonwealth.
Board Meetings
Meetings of the HPC's 11-member Board of Commissioners are held regularly throughout the year. At these public meetings, Board members review and consider the major workstreams of focus at the HPC. These meetings occasionally feature external guest presentations providing updates or insights on salient health policy topics.
Unless otherwise noted, all Board meetings will take place at 12:00 PM and be livestreamed on the HPC’s website.
Task Force Meetings
The HPC serves as the co-chairing organization and provides research and operational support for two task forces established by legislation passed in 2024.
The nine-member Massachusetts Maternal Health Access and Birthing Patient Safety Task Force (MHTF) is co-chaired by the HPC and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to study and report on maternal health access and patient safety trends in Massachusetts, and to improve care for all birthing people across the Commonwealth.
The 25-member Massachusetts Primary Care Access, Delivery, and Payment Task Force (PCTF) is co-chaired by the HPC and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to develop a series of recommendations to stabilize and strengthen the primary care system across Massachusetts.