News
Municipal budgets feeling pain of rising health care costs
15+ hour, 30+ min ago (498+ words) BOSTON " Escalating health care costs are adding mounting pressure on local school budgets, just as they are everywhere in Massachusetts, but so far cost containment doesn't seem to be on Beacon Hill's agenda this session." School committees, educators, teachers unions…...
Insurers wave caution flag on patient care changes
1+ mon, 5+ day ago (755+ words) Health insurers and providers are debating the proposed prior authorization reforms, with insurers warning of increased costs and providers citing administrative burdens and negative patient outcomes. BOSTON " Health insurers are cautioning that prior authorization reforms could worsen health care cost…...
Pushback stalls state employee health benefit changes
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (629+ words) BOSTON " State health plan overseers under pressure to tame spiraling health care costs delayed a vote on controversial benefit changes " particularly eliminating coverage for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss " in response to pushback from lawmakers and state workers. As it…...
‘We can’t afford more’: Public workers push back on health insurance changes
1+ mon, 2+ week ago (919+ words) AMHERST " Nearly one in three Americans carries medical debt, a figure that public employees in Massachusetts worry could increase if Gov. Maura Healey's proposal to cut the state's Group Insurance Commission by $100 million is approved this week. Attendees implored the…...
Community Legal Aid set to expand its Medicare advocacy help
4+ mon, 6+ day ago (458+ words) SPRINGFIELD " The Medicare system is complicated even for experts in the field, let alone a new enrollee choosing one plan among the hundreds of options. Once Medicare enrollees get a plan, they may run into denial of coverage, prior authorization…...
Healey notes insurance relief is 'one-year plan right now"
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (652+ words) BOSTON " With enhanced federal health subsidies now expired, Beacon Hill leaders on Thursday endorsed a one-year plan to tap $250 million from a state trust fund to provide relief to a quarter-million middle- and low-income residents. Lawn framed the $250 million as…...
State seeing more people drop health insurance
3+ mon, 3+ week ago (637+ words) BOSTON " More than 10,000 Massachusetts residents have dropped health plans obtained through the Massachusetts Health Connector at a time when premiums tied to expiring federal subsidies are projected to soar. "In the first month of open enrollment, we've seen over 10,000 people…...
Belchertown residents to vote on plan to cover $911K health insurance hike
5+ mon, 1+ week ago (319+ words) BELCHERTOWN " Residents at next Monday's special Town Meeting will discuss the financial transfers and various cuts needed to cover a $911,000 midyear increase in health insurance premiums, which will ensure that municipal employees retain coverage for the rest of the current…...
Regional trust's mid-year health insurance would hit communities hard
8+ mon, 2+ day ago (870+ words) A FREE morning newsletter that keeps you up to speed on the day's essential news. NORTHAMPTON " A rising number of claims and climbing drug costs is prompting the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust to consider implementing a 20% increase in rates…...
Massive health rate hike to hit local towns this fall
8+ mon, 2+ day ago (756+ words) The injectable drug Ozempic. The Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust is increasing health insurance rates by an additional 20% on Oct. 1 for its 73 members towns, school districts and other public employees. AP NORTHAMPTON " All 73 members of the Hampshire County Group Insurance…...