Health Care

Spending on health care in Massachusetts rose to $57.2 billion in 2015, growing more slowly than in 2014 but for the second straight year outpacing the benchmark set under a 2012 cost containment law.

A 23-member special commission will meet for the first time Tuesday to begin studying variation in prices among health care providers in Massachusetts.

Marlborough drugmaker Sunovion Pharmaceuticals has agreed to acquire Toronto-based Cynapsus Therapeutics for $624 million sometime in the fourth quarter.

The Worcester City Council on Tuesday night is scheduled to vote on a property exchange deal with Saint Vincent Hospital, so the healthcare provider can increase its campus footprint in Washington Square, according to the council agenda.

With new regulations on overtime for personal care attendants now in effect, advocates gathered outside Gov. Charlie Baker's office Thursday to protest the changes they said could make it harder for people with disabilities to live independently.

The first filings pertaining to the proposed affiliation of Southcoast Health and Care New England have been filed.

A proposed MassHealth policy set to take in October could reduce hospital reimbursements $150 million.

With the new federal overtime pay rule set to take effect Dec. 1, Central Massachusetts businesses are educating themselves, planning changes – and offering opinions.

UMass Memorial Health Care is exploring a potential merger between its two hospitals in North Central Massachusetts.

All but two of the acute-care hospitals in Central Massachusetts were profitable last year, pushing the overall margin for the region to fourth best out of the seven regions in the state.