The Connector: $80M Savings Through Limiting Choices, Tougher Contracts

She explains:

For most of us, the price of insurance went up at least 7-10% this year. But plans that cover moderate income residents through Commonwealth Care are holding rates flat by limiting where patients can go, negotiating tougher contracts with hospitals, and with better oversight of the sickest patients. Glen Shor runs, who runs the state's Health Connector says: "We're very excited to test new models for delivering coverage in a more effective manner. We hope there's something to learn from this experiment that can help other cost containment efforts."

Shor says the state will save $80 million dollars by level funding Commonwealth Care.

The limits placed on where patients can seek care may be significant. The Boston Globe reports:

Shor said that a proposed limited-network contract from Network Health excludes all hospitals in the Partners HealthCare system except two, on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.