MA Health Care

State Policy Topics
Campaign Finance
Economy
Education
Energy and Environment
Health Care
Law and Justice
The Media
Transportation

News and Opinion

2015

• The Commonwealth: Health care sticker shock, by Jack Sullivan (July 7, 2015)
• Cape Cod Times: Ballot bid tweaked to amend dispensary pot sales, by Christine Legere (July 2, 2015)
• WBUR: Mass. AG Shifts Health Care Costs Conversation To Behavioral Health, by Martha Bebinger (June 30, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Maine and New Hampshire consumers will continue to get health insurance subsidies, by Virgie Hoban (June 25, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Despite law, hospitals ‘flummoxed’ by requests for price information, survey finds, by Felice J. Freyer (June 24, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Baker releases findings on state opioid crisis, by Felice J. Freyer (June 22, 2015)
• Boston Globe: State auditor: MassHealth spent $500 million needlessly, by Felice J. Freyer (June 16, 2015)
• Boston Globe: AG Maura Healey continues probe of Connector software developer, by Felice J. Freyer (May 15, 2015)
• Boston Globe: Report alleges cover-up of impending Health Connector failure, by Felice J. Freyer (May 10, 2015)
• Boston Business Journal: New study says Mass. health reform wasn't as beneficial as you think, by Jessica Bartlett (Apr 13, 2015)

Oct 2014

• Boston Globe: Partners HealthCare chief met a trail of resistance, by Robert Weisman and Priyanka Dayal McCluskey (Oct 29, 2014)
• Boston Herald: State’s former Obamacare czar has new job at firm fixing botched site, by Chris Cassidy (Oct 29, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. General in talks to build hospital in China, by Liz Kowalczyk (Oct 18, 2014)
• Commonwealth Magazine: Connector cost debate, by Bruce Mohl (Oct 9, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Why the Mass. Health Connector website will work, by Maydad Cohen (Oct 9, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Top official confident in Mass. Health Connector website, by Felice J. Freyer (Oct 9, 2014)
• Mass Live: Massachusetts should refund $106M to U.S. for improper Medicaid reimbursements, report says, by the Associated Press (Oct 1, 2014)

Sept 2014

• Boston Globe: Cost of Health Connector’s website failure disputed, by Felice J. Freyer (Sept 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Connector health plans for 2015 will rise by 1.6%, by Felice J. Freyer (Sept 12, 2014)
• Boston Globe: When something medically goes wrong, by Liz Kowalczyk (Sept 1, 2014)

Aug 2014

• Boston Globe: The most (and least) profitable professions in Massachusetts, by Catherine Cloutier (Aug 29, 2014)
• Boston Globe: About 400,000 in Mass. must seek new health plan, by Felice J. Freyer (Aug 14, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. hospitals’ mistakes list widens, by Liz Kowalczyk (Aug 14, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. sticking with its health insurance website, by Felice J. Freyer (Aug 8, 2014)

July 2014

• Boston Globe: Mass. unlikely to be affected by health care rulings, by Felice J. Freyer (July 22, 2014)
• Boston Globe: New Mass. health insurance website passes key test, by Felice J. Freyer (July 10, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Audit finds doctors’ criminal cases are underreported, by Liz Kowalczyk (July 2, 2014)
• Boston Globe: No money set aside for shift in Medicaid, by Felice J. Freyer (July 1, 2014)

June 2014

• Boston Globe: Partners, Coakley file agreement on expansion, by Liz Kowalczyk (June 25, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Deal reached on botched Mass. health site, by Felice J. Freyer (June 20, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. Health Connector website faces critical test in July, by Felice J. Freyer (June 12, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. paying $35m to drop builder of health website, by Steve LeBlanc, Associated Press (June 20, 2014)

May 2014

• Boston Globe: 3-hospital takeover by Partners OK’d, by Liz Kowalczyk (May 20, 2014)
• Boston Globe: New Mass. health website estimated to cost $121m, by Kay Lazar (May 8, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. scrapping flawed health insurance website, by Liz Kowalczyk and Michael Levenson (May 5, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. dumps health insurance website contractor, by Liz Kowalczyk (May 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Exit plan for health site mess deserves scrutiny of its own, editorial (May 8, 2014)

Apr 2014

• Boston Globe: 30 Mass. doctors split up $45 million from Medicare, by Liz Kowalczyk and Andrew Tran(Apr 10, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Health Connector chief cites vendor for site woes, by Tracy Jan (Apr 3, 2014)

Mar 2014

• Boston Globe: Mass. extends deadline to enroll in health coverage, by Michael Levenson (Mar 27, 2014)
• Boston Globe: State dismisses health site firm, by Liz Kowalczyk (Mar 18, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Drug makers spending less on MD speakers, by Charles Ornstein, Eric Sagara and Ryann Grochowski Jones (Mar 4, 2014)

Feb 2014

• Boston Globe: Mass. may give up on still-failing health site, by Carolyn Y. Johnson (Feb 27, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Progress reported on reducing health insurance application backlog, by Carolyn Y. Johnson (Feb 21, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. gets 3-month extension to comply with health law, by Bob Salsberg, Associated Press (Feb 13, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Connector chief brought to tears describing backlog, by Michael Levenson (Feb 13, 2014)
• Boston Globe: 50,000 filings for health coverage in limbo, by Michael Levenson (Feb 12, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Murray criticizes health care site, by Michael Levenson and Liz Kowalczyk (Feb 10, 2014)

Feb 2013

• Boston Globe: State hires firm for $10 million to fix insurance website, by Chelsea Conaboy (Feb 6, 2013)

Feb 2014

• Boston Globe: Insurance executive to help fix Health Connector site, by Chelsea Conaboy (Feb 6, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Some who sought health coverage remain uninsured, by Chelsea Conaboy (Jan 31, 2014)
• Boston Globe: State knew about troubles with health site, by Chelsea Conaboy (Jan 25, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Pressure mounts to fix Mass. health site, by Chelsea Conaboy (Jan 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Partners defends plan to expand, by Liz Kowalczyk (Jan 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. falls short on health insurance sign-ups, by Chelsea Conaboy (Jan 15, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Mass. Health Connector fraught with uncertainty, by Chelsea Conaboy (Jan 9, 2014)
• Boston Globe: Report finds billions wasted on health care, by Liz Kowalczyk (Jan 9, 2014)

Dec 2013

• Boston Globe: Mass., Vt. halt payments to firm behind health sites, by Tracy Jan (Dec 26, 2013)
• Boston Globe: With health care website troubles, state turns to mail, by Chelsea Conaboy (Dec 20, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Brookline psychiatric hospital resumes taking patients, by (Dec 11, 2013)
• Boston Globe: 2 Deloitte Consulting ex-staffers hold key state jobs, by Beth Healy and Megan Woolhouse (Dec 10, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Problems continue to plague Mass. health marketplace, by Chelsea Conaboy (Dec 7, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Problems continue to plague Mass. health marketplace, by Chelsea Conaboy (Dec 7, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Was Mitt Romney right about US health overhaul?, by Tracy Jan (Dec 7, 2013)

Nov 2013

• Boston Globe: Snarls in retooled Mass. insurance site, by Chelsea Conaboy (Nov 25, 2013)

Nov 2014

• Boston Globe: Mass Health Connector delays online sign-up deadline to March 31, by Beth Healy (Nov 15, 2014)

Nov 2013

• Boston Globe: National reviews of centers rare in mental health, by Chelsea Conaboy (Nov 11, 2013)

Oct 2013

• Boston Globe: Many differences between Mass., federal rollouts, by Chelsea Conaboy (Oct 30, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Senate OK’s bill on drug mixing, by Chelsea Conaboy (Oct 21, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Why is it so hard to find a doctor?, by Michael Fitzgerald (Oct 13, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Exporting Romneycare, by James Cronin (Oct 13, 2013)
• Boston Globe: When Romneycare met Obamacare, by James Cronin (Oct 13, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Mass. making progress in containing health costs, by Liz Kowalczyk (Oct 2, 2013)

Sept 2013

• Boston Globe: Much riding on ruling on Partners expansion, by Liz Kowalczyk (Sept 17, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Mass. Health Connector offering guidance with new law, by Mitch Lipka (Sept 15, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Staff failures cited in deaths at Arbour psychiatric centers, by Chelsea Conaboy (Sept 1, 2013)

Aug 2013

• Boston Globe: Gap in insurer payments to Partners surprises health official, by Liz Kowalczyk (Aug 14, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Partners hospitals, doctors top health-payment list, by Liz Kowalczyk (Aug 14, 2013)

July 2013

• Boston Globe: Four of five Mass. pioneer ACOs cut medical spending last year by better coordinating care, by Liz Kowalczyk (July 17, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Health Connector adds plans, updates options, by Robert Weisman (July 21, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Repeal of employer mandate moving forward, Patrick says, by Chelsea Conaboy (July 11, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Surgical errors rise in Mass. despite new controls, by Liz Kowalczyk (July 7, 2013)

June 2013

• Boston Globe: Mental health clinics cited, by Chelsea Conaboy (June 20, 2013)

Apr 2013

• Boston Globe: Report says states not adequately tracking drugs, by Chelsea Conaboy (Apr 15, 2013)

Mar 2013

• Boston Globe: Hospital charges bring a backlash, by Liz Kowalczyk (Mar 11, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Doctors call for study of marijuana, by Chelsea Conaboy (Mar 9, 2013)

Feb 2013

• Boston Globe: Study authors: On medical school conflict of interest policies, more enforcement needed , by Chelsea Conaboy (Feb 28, 2013)
• Boston Globe: A data gap on Mass. doctors’ troubles, by Chelsea Conaboy (Feb 19, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Court appointee to liquidate Sleep HealthCenters chain, by Chelsea Conaboy (Feb 6, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Hospital penalty plan is faulted, by Chelsea Conaboy (Jan 28, 2013)
• Boston Globe: A hospital fee, minus the hospital, by Liz Kowalczyk (Jan 27, 2013)
• Boston Globe: Cheaper drugs often lose out, by Chelsea Conaboy (Jan 13, 2013)

Dec 2012

• Boston Globe: Young doctors’ debt can pinch, by Chelsea Conaboy (Dec 3, 2012)

Nov 2012

• Boston Globe: Mass. approves medical marijuana ballot question, by Chelsea Conaboy (Nov 7, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Hospitals look to lower readmission rates, by Chelsea Conaboy (Nov 5, 2012)

Oct 2012

• Boston Globe: Law, policy thwart research on marijuana , by Chelsea Conaboy (Oct 19, 2012)

Sept 2012

• Boston Globe: Medical debt still problem in Mass., by Chelsea Conaboy (Sept 12, 2012)

Aug 2012

• Boston Globe: Journal editorial: Pay-for-performance a faulty policy in medicine, by Chelsea Conaboy (Aug 15, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Health insurers’ earnings plunge for 2d quarter, by Robert Weisman (Aug 15, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Boston-area hospital bosses earn up to $3 million , by Liz Kowalczyk (Aug 15, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Medicaid managed care program doesn’t reduce fees, report says, by Chelsea Conaboy (Aug 3, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Cost-control bill aims to reduce illnesses, by Kay Lazar (Aug 1, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Key provisions of the cost-control bill, by Liz Kowalczyk (Aug 1, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Mass. lawmakers pass health care bill, by Liz Kowalczyk and Chelsea Conaboy (Aug 1, 2012)

July 2012

• Boston Globe: State needs to take stock before expanding health payment methods employers are rejecting, by Eric Beyer A(July 18, 2012)

July 2014

• Boston Globe: Massachusetts’ health care cost containment option could affect life sciences economy, by Robert Brown (July 17, 2014)
• Boston Globe: State health care bill should focus on areas of broad agreement, editorial (July 15, 2014)

July 2012

• Boston Globe: Reducing payments to hospitals doesn’t reduce health care costs, it just shifts them to someone else, by Lynn Nicholas (July 16, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Blue Cross plan shows reduction in spending, by Liz Kowalczyk (July 11, 2012)

June 2012

• Boston Globe: The lesson from abroad: spending more doesn’t always lead to better care, by Dr. Daniel Vasella (June 22, 2012)
• Boston Globe: As records go online, clash over mental care privacy, by Liz Kowalczyk (June 21, 2012)
• Boston Globe: 20 years later, Weld’s deregulation of hospital rates looms large as the root of today’s cost crisis, by Philip W. Johnston (June 21, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Put away the red tape, by Dr. Allan H. Ropper, Dr. Anthony A. Amato, and Dr. Martin A. Samuels (June 19, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Mass. has too many hospitals for its own good, by Shannon Brownlee (June 15, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Health care system needs more freedom and competition, not less, by Jeff Jacoby (June 13, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Without patient-centered health plans, Mass. is using the same tired script, by Josh Archambault (June 6, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Hospitals need to coordinate better to deliver the best care — and save money, by Mike Coyne (June 5, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Single-payer health care would save billions for Massachusetts, by David U. Himmelstein and Steffie Woolhandler (June 1, 2012)

May 2012

• Boston Globe: Less hospital power could mean lower health care prices in Mass., editorial (May 30, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Health care will test Gov. Patrick’s skills, by Scot Lehigh (May 25, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Health care costs can bite, by Joanna Weiss (May 17, 2012)
• Boston Globe: 2 Mass. plans vie for savings on health care, by Liz Kowalczyk (May 9, 2012)
• Boston Globe: As legislative debate begins, Partners HealthCare ad campaign touts its cost-cutting, by Chelsea Conaboy (May 7, 2012)
• Boston Globe: House targets health spending, by Liz Kowalczyk (May 4, 2012)

Mar 2012

• Boston Globe: Doctors’ pay rises with new patients, by Liz Kowalczyk (Mar 6, 2012)

Feb 2012

• Boston Globe: State insurance exchange awarded $11.6 million to adjust to Affordable Care Act, by Chelsea Conaboy (Feb 22, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Mass. releases data on hospital infections, by Liz Kowalczyk (Feb 9, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Cost-controlled health coverage gaining ground, by Liz Kowalczyk (Jan 30, 2012)
• Boston Globe: Understanding accountable health care organizations, by (Jan 9, 2012)

2011

• Boston Globe: Mass. families no longer pay the most in health insurance premiums, by Chelsea Conaboy (Nov 17, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Mass. health leaders say they can control costs themselves, by Liz Kowalczyk (Nov 4, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Poll says most want state action to cut cost of health care, by Chelsea Conaboy (Oct 21, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Cost still a barrier for the uninsured, study says, by Chelsea Conaboy (Sept 19, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Lawmaker targets health care dollars, by Liz Kowalczyk (Sept 14, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Romney and health care: In the thick of history, by Brian C. Mooney (May 30, 2011)
• Boston Globe: ‘RomneyCare’ — a revolution that basically worked, by Brian C. Mooney (June 26, 2011)
• Boston Globe: Support for state health law rises , by Kay Lazar (June 5, 2011)

2009

• Boston Globe: Compliance uneven on health care law, by Kay Lazar (Oct 1, 2009)
• Boston Globe: The choice between prickly policies, by Kay Lazar (Apr 26, 2009)

2008

• Boston Globe: Medical costs still burden many despite insurance, by Kay Lazar (June 22, 2008)
• Boston Globe: Fueled by profits, a healthcare giant takes aim at suburbs , by the Globe Spotlight Team (Dec 21, 2008)
• Boston Globe: A healthcare system badly out of balance, by the Globe Spotlight Team (Nov 16, 2008)

2007

• Boston Globe: Free care may come at a cost to poor, by Alice Dembner (Jul 13, 2007)

2006

• Boston Globe: Costly ER still draws many now insured, by Kay Lazar (Aug 6, 2006)
• Boston Globe: Joy, worries on healthcare, by Scott Helman and Liz Kowalczyk (Apr 6, 2006)

2004

• Boston Globe: My plan for Massachusetts health insurance reform, by Mitt Romney (Nov 24, 2004)

Reports

• Pioneer Institute: Whistleblowers Expose the Massachusetts Connector - A Behind-The-Scenes Account of What Went Wrong, by Josh Archambault (May 11, 2015)
• The Health Connector Autopsy Report, by Ed Lyons (Aug 26, 2014)
  • Report coverage on State Sen. Will Brownsberger's forum
• One year later, municipal health insurance reform a smashing success, by the MAPC, The Boston Foundation and the Mass Taxpayer Foundation (July 11, 2012)
• The crushing burden of municipal retiree health care liabilities, by the Mass Taxpayers Foundation (Feb 8, 2012)
• Municipal health plans: gilded benefits from a bygone era, by the Mass Taxpayers Foundation (Apr 2011)
• Retiree health care: the brick that broke municipalities' backs, by the Mass Taxpayers Foundation (Feb 2011)
• An analysis of the essential role of employers in Massachusetts health care reform, by the Mass Taxpayers Foundation (Dec 2007)