That was the general theme of a panel discussion hosted by Associated Industries of Massachusetts on Tuesday, featuring leaders from four distinct areas of the health care sector. <\/p>\n
Audrey Morse Gasteier, executive director of the Massachusetts Health Connector, kicked things off by warning of the challenges ahead, particularly with the anticipated annual loss of some $3.5 billion in federal funds for subsidized coverage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe scope of these changes is quite difficult to wrap one\u2019s head around,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s so important that the business community is at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
Health care costs were already a growing concern, even before the cuts from Washington created a new level of crisis for the state. Morse Gasteier implored those in the room to come together on solutions, much like what happened 20 years ago. (The AIM event, at PwC\u2019s Seaport office, took place one day after several former governors joined with Governor Maura Healey at Faneuil Hall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of \u201cRomneycare.\u201d)<\/p>\n
Emerson Hospital CEO Christine Schuster told the AIM members that the only way to fix what\u2019s ailing the state\u2019s health care system is for the various constituencies to be willing to give up something in favor of the greater good.<\/p>\n
That will be easier said than done, given the tense relationship between insurers and hospitals, not to mention pharmaceutical and med-device companies. <\/p>\n
Schuster also noted that broader inflation is playing a role, with employees telling her that they face longer commutes because of housing prices<\/a>, bigger fuel bills as a result, as well as jaw-dropping prices at the supermarket, like $7.99 for a mid-sized jar of Hellman\u2019s mayonnaise. And Schuster lamented the increased competition from privately funded physicians\u2019 groups that can cherry-pick the most profitable procedures and services for themselves.<\/p>\n Bob Donnelly, senior director of health policy at Johnson & Johnson, suggested regulators and lawmakers take a closer look at the pharmacy benefit managers that take a cut out of manufacturers\u2019 coupons, driving patients\u2019 costs up.<\/p>\n At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, chief executive Sarah Iselin<\/a> has been trying to draw a hard line, limiting hospital systems\u2019 average price increases to 3.6 percent a year, the state\u2019s health care inflation benchmark. But she said this effort at cost control has been partially hampered by hospitals\u2019 use of AI to \u201cupcode,\u201d to find additional reasons to charge insurers for a patient\u2019s visit. <\/p>\n Iselin also wants to see more \u201cglobal payment\u201d arrangements, in which health care providers get a fixed amount to cover most of a patient\u2019s care, as well as more shifting of care out of pricey Boston hospitals to their less expensive suburban affiliates.<\/p>\n \u201cI have more optimism, given that this is a relatively small community [and] we all know each other,\u201d Iselin concluded, \u201cthat we will be able to figure this out again.\u201d<\/p>\n This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston\u2019s business scene.<\/p>\n Jon Chesto can be reached at jon.chesto@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @jonchesto<\/a>.<\/p>\n