Findings to Be Presented at Public Meeting on October 3, 2018 and Will Inform Panel Discussion at Cost Trends Hearing, October 16-17, 2018

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) today issued the following statement on the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) Annual Report on the Performance of the Massachusetts Health Care System. Please attribute the statement to Dr. Stuart H. Altman, Chairman.

Partnership will help promote community-based provider access to the digital health “ecosystem” and align with the Governor’s Digital Health Initiative

Since 2010, the number of urgent care centers in Massachusetts increased eight-fold, while the number of retail clinics nearly tripled. The average cost of care for minor conditions is four to eight times lower at these settings compared to EDs.

Innovative, cutting-edge initiatives aim to address health-related social needs and increase access to timely behavioral health services for residents of Massachusetts.

Statement from Dr. Stuart H. Altman, Chair, Massachusetts Health Policy Commission:

Annual spending on imaging services for Massachusetts Medicare beneficiaries is 14 percent higher than the U.S. average; Massachusetts ranks higher than the country in total imaging volume and use of more expensive facility settings.

Annual health care spending for patients in the highest-cost provider organization was 32 percent higher than in the lowest-cost provider organization

The HPC seeks compelling new ideas from Massachusetts health care providers for reducing avoidable emergency department visits and hospital readmissions, including through models that increase patient access to timely behavioral health services

First-in-the-Nation Program Aims to Improve Health and Lower Costs Through High-Quality, Coordinated Care