New wave of reforms targets cost, quality; reactions mixed

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick on Aug. 10 signed a sweeping health care reform law that complements the 2006 reform with targeted measures aimed at improving quality of care, reducing costs and promoting transparency by gathering and disseminating more data.
The law was backed by Senate and House leaders and consumer advocates but opposed by the life sciences and pharmaceutical sectors and some business groups. It requires public reporting of any gift worth $50 or more given to a doctor by a drug company.
Less controversially, the measure also provides $25 million to promote the use of electronic medical records in doctors’ offices; directs the University of Massachusetts Medical School to produce more primary care physicians; sets up a pilot “medical home” initiative; and provides for the development of quality and cost-containment goals and benchmarks and for the dissemination of more quality and cost data for consumers, providers and insurers.
On Aug. 11, the state unveiled a proposed regulation, effective Oct. 1 if adopted, that would raise about $45 million this fiscal year by requiring businesses with 10 or more full-time-equivalent workers to meet two separate standards for minimum health insurance coverage. Until now, businesses just had to comply with either one of the standards to avoid the state’s $295-per-year “fair share” penalty. Several business groups said this will create a hardship. •