Update on MA's Cost Control Efforts

As I have noted many times, the health care scene acts as an excellent bell weather on how health care reform will play out throughout the country, This article from the Boston Globe provides the latest update (http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2010/11/05/us_watching_mass_fight_on_health_costs/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Health+news )

Interesting excerpt:

Patrick is ready to move forward with a “global payment’’ plan that is supported in principle by most of the state’s health care companies, though they have yet to agree on the elements.

The plan, in broad form, would put hospitals and doctors on an annual budget for each patient’s care. Providers would be expected to assemble into partnerships — known as accountable care organizations — to coordinate care and distribute payments. It would replace the current “fee for service’’ system in which providers are paid negotiated fees for each visit and procedure.