Massachusetts Bill Would Curb Teaching Hospitals’ Expansion Into Suburbs

A measure drafted by the administration of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) would require that teaching hospitals seeking to expand into suburban markets prove that their plans would not duplicate services offered by community hospitals, the Boston Globe reports.

Satellite campuses built by these large hospitals focus mainly on outpatient services that are the "bread and butter of local hospitals," the Globe reports. Previously, Massachusetts hospitals seeking to expand by adding overnight beds at outpatient facilities "faced little scrutiny from the state," according to the Globe.

State officials say that if too many patients seek care at these academic centers rather than community hospitals, the cost to the state could substantially increase without necessarily improving care. The Massachusetts government covers much of the cost of health insurance for more than 300,000 residents enrolled under the state health insurance law of 2006. JudyAnn Bigby, director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said that community hospitals provide care "with the highest of quality and usually with lower costs."

The measure is supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. BCBS senior vice president for public, government and regulatory affairs Jay Curley said, "We want to be very careful that there is not a propensity toward duplication of services within a particular area. With a greater duplication of services there comes a great potential of overuse."

Matt Fishman, vice president for community health at Partners HealthCare, said the organization does not see the proposal as "an attack on teaching hospitals or Partners HealthCare," adding that Partners believes that "these reforms will create a level playing field that is better than the existing process."

According to the Globe, the measure was "almost certain to win support" from the state Public Health Council on Wednesday (Smith, Boston Globe, 7/9).