Patrick: Lowering Health Costs Critical To Mass. Economy

At a legislative hearing Monday, Gov. Deval Patrick said that lowering health care costs in Massachusetts is critical to the state's economic recovery.

Patrick was the lead-off witness Monday at a hearing on his bill calling for the state to move away from a "fee-for-service" model for health care payments and toward a system that rewards providers for healthier patient outcomes.

Patrick told the packed Statehouse hearing that while the state's 2006 universal health insurance law has been a "resounding success," only by lowering costs for consumers, small businesses and municipalities will the state be able to continue its economic recovery.

Administration officials later conceded under questioning by lawmakers that it could not provide a current estimate on the expenses the state might incur in implementing any new law.

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