Study: Mass. wasted billions on health care spending in 2012

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A new study from a state agency created to monitor health care reform and payment systems suggests as much as 39-percent of the state's health care spending in 2012 could be considered wasteful.

The first annual cost trends report released by the Health Policy Commission Wednesday evaluates the health care delivery system and cost drivers that include hospital operating expenses, wasteful spending, and high-cost patients.

Among the study's key findings is a glimpse at what the commission describes as wasteful spending. They conclude that in 2012, between 21- and 39-percent of health care expenditures in the Commonwealth could be deemed wasteful. That wasteful spending carries up to a $26.9 billion price tag.

Some examples of wasteful spending cited in the study include $700 million allocated to preventable acute hospital readmissions and $550 million in unnecessary emergency department visits.

The commission used medical claims data from the state's All-Payer Claims Database to evaluate spending trends by both public and commercial payers.

To learn more: http://www.mass.gov

Cox Media Group