Health Care

The state's health insurance program is planning for the potential permanent loss of federal subsidies to insurers and a potential repeal of the individual health insurance mandate.

The failure of Republicans in Congress this year to repeal the Affordable Care Act means that a controversial tax on medical device sales will return in 2018 unless legislators intervene in the next couple weeks, putting a major Bay State industry on edge.

The healthcare system announced its annual gun buyback program one day ahead of the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.

Opponents of a proposal to mandate nurse staffing ratios are pointing to new rankings that determined Massachusetts is the healthiest state in the nation.

10) What is home health care? A wide range of skilled health care services provided by healthcare professionals in one's home to treat an illness or an injury through Medicare-certified agencies.

Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care was profitable for a fourth straight year in the latest budget period but less so than the three previous years, system officials said.

UMass Memorial Health Care got a stable bond rating on a $130-million fixed-rate bond, the agency S&P Global Ratings said.

A home health agency that operated in Worcester and other locations will pay more than $14 million to settle allegations it overcharged for services from MassHealth, according to the Attorney General.

The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association and others have banned together to oppose efforts by the Massachusetts Nurses Association to mandate nurse staffing ratios in Bay State hospitals.

Members of the physician group voted to rescind their longstanding opposition to physician-assisted suicide on Dec. 2.