Restricting the number of hospitals participating in its inexpensive insurance plan is one option officials in Massachusetts will consider as they work out the details of healthcare reform that will grant near-universal health insurance to the state’s residents. During the first board meeting of the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, a state Medicaid official quoted prices ranging between $1,800 and $5,300 charged to deliver an underweight infant, reports the Boston Globe. "Don't let anyone tell you there aren't huge savings in cost while maintaining quality," Brian Wheelan, assistant director of Medicaid, was quoted as saying, while urging the board members to limit the network to less expensive hospitals in order to achieve a premium of $300 per month. Board members expressed interest in cutting the number of hospitals rather than benefits. Other options the board is considering to keep prices low include charging larger premiums to smokers, using health savings accounts, and eliminating state mandates that require coverage for certain medical services.
