Category: CHIR
State Spotlight: New Massachusetts Law Enhances Oversight of Private Equity in Health Care

Massachusetts recently enacted a law to increase transparency and oversight of private equity in healthcare following the collapse of Steward Health Care. CHIR experts Stacey Pogue and Kennah Watts break down the law and how it serves as a potential model for other states facing similar challenges with healthcare corporatization.
Bringing Balance to the Market: A Roadmap for Improving Health Insurance Affordability Through Rate Review

High and rising healthcare costs in the U.S. are driven largely by escalating hospital prices, fueled by increasing consolidation among health systems. In a recent Issue Brief for the Milbank Memorial Fund, Sabrina Corlette and Karen Davenport discuss what states can do to enhance premium rate review programs, to ultimately curb provider price increases.
Bipartisan Reports Indicate It’s Time to Take Action Against Private Equity in Health Care

Private equity is not new to the health care sector, but recent growth in private equity investment has sparked a plethora of research studies, media attention, and political attention. A recent Congressional investigation and agency report, on top of continuing research indicate the time for policymakers to take action against private equity in health care is now.
January Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
State Spotlight: The Use Of Provider-Based Reference Pricing In Oklahoma And South Carolina

Like other employer health plans across the commercial insurance market, state employee health plans (SEHPs) regularly face significant increases in health care costs. A new piece by CHIR faculty for Health Affairs explores how SEHPs’ use of provider-based reference pricing to constrain cost growth has been gaining traction.
Implementing the No Surprises Act: Updated Complaint Data

The No Surprises Act (NSA) has largely succeeded in protecting consumers from surprise medical bills by reducing out-of-network billing and establishing a dispute resolution process. However, while compliance has improved, challenges with the IDR process, legal actions, and incomplete data hinder a full assessment of its cost containment goals and effectiveness. CHIR experts Nadia Stovicek and Jack Hoadley discuss recent complaint data in their newest piece for CHIRblog.
November Research Roundup: What We’re Reading
New York Legislature Seeks to Control Outpatient Spending through Site-Neutral Payment and Rate Cap Proposal
Biden Administration Proposal to Improve Access to Free Preventive Services Faces Uncertain Future

The Biden Administration has proposed a rule to expand coverage of preventive services, including over-the-counter (OTC) contraceptives, without cost sharing. However, the proposal’s future is uncertain due to potential legal challenges and the political factors surrounding reproductive health. CHIR faculty Leila Sullivan and Amy Killelea discuss the proposal.