BOSTON (AP) -- The Massachusetts House of Representatives has passed a proposal that aims to reel in the state's spiraling health-care costs by $160 billion over the next 15 years. The House and Senate must now resolve their differences over the measure before it can go to Gov. Deval Patrick. <\/p>\n
Lawmakers have been working on legislation that tries to lower the costs resulting from the 2006 landmark Massachusetts health-care legislation that mandates health insurance for nearly all state residents. The House passed its version of the bill 148-7 late Tuesday night. <\/p>\n
This bill aims to contain health-care costs by evening out disparities in the prices of health services. It would require hospitals that charge more than 20 percent above the state median price for a service to pay a 10 percent surcharge. <\/p>\n
It also focuses on workforce development, overhauls medical malpractice laws and adopts alternative payment methods, such as global and bundled payments for services. <\/p>\n
A conference committee will now reconcile the House and Senate versions of the bill, which differ on certain provisions like the surcharge on hospitals and other health-care providers. <\/p>\n
The Senate bill does not call for any surcharge. <\/p>\n
Patrick, a Democrat, told reporters Wednesday that he is looking forward to the work of the committee. <\/p>\n
\"I'm confident we are going to get to a great and final bill,\" he said. \"It will be a good bill for patients and for the industry as well.\" <\/p>\n
During debate on the bill, Rep. Steven Walsh, D-Lynn, said health-care costs in Massachusetts have been rising from 6.7 percent to 8 percent annually, with the state spending $66 billion on health care last year <\/p>\n
Signed by then-Gov. Mitt Romney, the 2006 law dramatically expanded access to health coverage in Massachusetts. But premiums and other health care costs have threatened to undermine the law's long-term fiscal stability. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Original post:<\/p>\n
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