Biz group warns against costly health care amendments
Courtesy Flickr by the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
House members are set to debate over 1,000 amendments to the budget this week.
The House gaveled in Monday morning to launch "budget week" and consideration of more than 1,300 amendments. While representatives advocate for and against amendments, they're feeling pressure from outside groups to advance and defeat budget proposals.
Nine business groups circulated a letter to House members opposing seven amendments, including proposals dealing with ambulance service payments (amendment 1260), out-of-pocket prescription drug costs (664), the use of "step therapy" in prescribing (864), new mandated coverage benefits (27, 579, 729), and an assessment on health plans and employers to pay for telephonic mental health consultations (1155).
The business groups are telling lawmakers that passage of the amendments "will translate into higher premiums for employers and adversely affect the cost of health care for Massachusetts businesses and run counter to current efforts to address rising health care costs."
The letter was signed by top executives at the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, the Springfield Regional Chamber, the Massachusetts Association of Health Underwriters, Health Services Administrators, NFIB, the Small Business Service Bureau Inc., and Mosaic Insurance Exchange.
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