Deval Patrick said at a legislative hearing on Monday that lowering health care costs in Massachusetts is crucial to the economic recovery of the state.
Monday’s hearing concentrated on Patrick’s bill, proposing that the state move away from a “fee-for-service” model for health care payments and toward a system that rewards providers for healthier patient results.
At the Statehouse hearing, Patrick announced that lowering health costs for consumers, small businesses and municipalities is the only way the state will be able to move along its economic recovery, even though the state’s 2006 universal health insurance law has been successful.
Later, administration officials said they could not provide an estimate on the expenses that could result from putting a new law in place.
Patrick hopes to have a bill ready by the fall, but leaders of the House would prefer a longer timetable.
