CHIA Reports on the Performance of the Massachusetts Health Care System

DATE: September 12, 2018

The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) today announced the release of its 2018 Annual Report on the Performance of the Massachusetts Health Care System. The report presents a final calculation of the Commonwealth's Total Health Care Expenditures for 2016 and an initial calculation for 2017, as well as additional key indicators used to assess the performance of the state's health care system in 2017.

Massachusetts experienced a 1.6% growth in Total Health Care Expenditures per capita between 2016 and 2017, below the Commonwealth's health care cost growth benchmark of 3.6% established in accordance with the state's 2012 health care cost containment law. Total Health Care Expenditures totaled $61.1 billion ($8,908 per capita) by or on behalf of Massachusetts residents for insured health care services.

Other topics covered in this report include quality of care in the Commonwealth, total medical expenses and alternative payment methods, private commercial contract enrollment, private commercial coverage costs, member cost-sharing, and commercial payer use of funds.

Supporting materials include databooks, a dataset, and technical appendices.

The findings of this report will inform the Health Policy Commission's 2018 Health Care Cost Trends Hearing, scheduled for October 16 and 17. The hearing will review strategies to create a more accountable and affordable health care system in the Commonwealth.