http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/quality/cost-control-efforts-working-so-far-ma?spMailingID=9530189&spUserID=MTMyMzQyMDQxMTkyS0&spJobID=1001355843&spReportId=MTAwMTM1NTg0MwS2#

Health policy veteran Stuart Altman, PhD, is hopeful, but not optimistic, about healthcare delivery reforms and thinks hospitals will be forced to bring costs down because patients won’t tolerate any more cost shifting.

Each year, we put together a cost trend report that outlines what forces are at play in the state in terms of raising spending and we have hearings every October. We are trying to play an interesting role which is not be regulatory, but really to be in the face of the healthcare system in terms of saying, “Hey  be careful. Don’t go the extra mile on in spending or pricing.”

We want to do it in a way that doesn’t destroy or even hurt the health system.  In any attempt to do that, some of the forces within the health industry scream.

But, for the most part, the hospitals have been supportive of our efforts. If we were to squeeze too hard, they would react more negatively. Everyone is engaged in a very interesting balancing act. We are trying getting the system to work more efficiently… and they are trying to control costs without destroying themselves. So far it’s working.