State Representative Frank A. Moran (D-Lawrence, Andover and Methuen) is thrilled to announce new funding for community hospitals that have been hit by low commercial insurance rate payments. Representative Moran delivered a letter to Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, House Majority Leader Ronald Mariano, House Ways and Means Chairman Jeffrey Sanchez, and Health Care Financing Committee Vice Chair Jeffrey Roy this past month in support of ensuring community hospitals are paid a fare rate by insurance companies. Representative Moran secured bipartisan support through signatures from 90 members of the House, and the support language offered in the letter was ultimately included in the legislation.
“Community hospitals are vitally important for equality when it comes to the health care received by the people we represent in the Legislature. Lawrence General – a tremendous employer and provider of life-saving services in my own district – was compensated at just 73% of the statewide average in 2016 while offering their patients the same high quality services of some of the bigger hospitals in our state. I’m glad that many of my colleagues agreed that this truly is an issue of equality in our health care system, and we were able to get this language included in the final bill. Thank you to Speaker DeLeo, Leader Mariano, Chairman Sanchez, and Vice Chair Roy for their support in supplying our community hospitals with the protections they need,” said Representative Moran.
The House passed An Act establishing the Honorable Peter V. Kocot Act to enhance access to high quality, affordable and transparent healthcare in the Commonwealth by a vote of 117-32. This health care reform legislation provides $337 million in new assessments over three years to stabilize community hospitals and the programs they offer, while securing $247.5 million from insurers and $90 million from the largest hospitals while protecting against premium increases for insurance customers.
