Bill > S718

This bill aims to improve health care cost accountability by amending the existing Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012. The key provisions include: 1. Defining "Weighted Average Payer Rate" (WAPR) as a measure that calculates the sum of inpatient revenue per discharge and outpatient revenue per visit, separately for Commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid, and then derives a weighted average based on the Net Patient Service Revenue-based payer mix. 2. Requiring the Health Policy Commission to hold public hearings annually to examine health care provider, provider organization, and payer costs, prices, WAPR, and cost trends, with a focus on factors contributing to cost growth in the state's healthcare system. 3. Expanding the information providers and provider organizations must provide in the hearings, including details on payment systems, care delivery models, payer mix, cost structures, WAPR, and efforts to improve efficiency and reduce inappropriate use of technology. 4. Requiring the Center for Health Information and Analysis to include provider cost and cost trends, including WAPR, in its annual reports. 5. Mandating the inclusion of WAPR paid to each acute hospital and physician organization in the reports. Overall, this bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in healthcare costs by requiring the calculation and reporting of the WAPR metric and expanding the scope of information that must be provided by healthcare providers and payers.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/S718