The state Payment Reform Commission met for the fifth time today
to listen to several presentations on global budgets, another
alternative payment model.
At the start of the meeting, commission consultant Michael
Bailit said he is preparing another amended version of commission
operating principles, based on further comments from stakeholder
groups. He did not provide a new draft, and he did not provide any
hints on how they will change from the latest version. He said the
newest version will be posted on the commission's website in the
near future.
The commission heard two presentations on global budgeting
models. Two senior leaders of Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Massachusetts discussed the insurer's new Alternative Quality
Contract, while Ann Robinow of a Minnesota employer health care
purchasing coalition discussed "Patient Choice," a global payment
model that uses market forces to force providers to compete for
patients. (More details on these presentations will be provided on
the MMS blog by March 16.)
This meeting concluded the education phase of the commission's
work. Co-chair Sarah Iselin said the next meetings, starting April
3, will focus on bringing everything together and starting to
develop recommendations for the State Legislature.
