Partners HealthCare President and CEO David Torchiana, MD, expressed his dissatisfaction with recommendations from a committee set up to address hospital pricing disparity in Massachusetts, according to the Boston Business Journal report.
The Provider Price Variation Commission, which includes hospital leaders, healthcare policy experts and government officials, recently provided a draft of recommendations to state lawmakers. In the draft, the committee calls for the state to regulate hospital and insurance contracts, according to the report. The committee also recommends a limit be established on health insurance premium rate growth for the highest-paid providers in Massachusetts in the coming years to afford an increase in pay for the state's lowest-paid hospitals, the article states.
Dr. Torchiana opposed this recommendation, claiming it would negatively impact the system's finances.
It will "cause harm to some of the most important institutions we have that are already at a disadvantageous position competing with national peers," he said, according to the report. "I think that is an atrocious policy and a bad idea."
His comments come as Partners is working to improve efficiency across the system. Just last week, North Shore Medical Center in Salem, Mass., which includes two campuses and is part of Boston-based Partners HealthCare, announced plans to lay off employees to cut costs.
Dr. Torchiana has attributed healthcare cost problems in Massachusetts to Medicaid expansion, according to the report. Implementation of any committee recommendations will ultimately be up to state lawmakers. A final draft of the commission's report won't be submitted until March 15.