Healthcare spending, drug costs, premiums spike in Massachusetts

Fierce Healthcare March 15, 2024
Dave Muoio

Pharmaceutical costs, non-claims payments and outpatient care fueled “unchecked” healthcare spending in Massachusetts that’s increasingly being felt by its residents, according to new findings from the state’s healthcare regulator.

The Bay State’s total healthcare expenditures per capita increased by 5.8% from 2021 to 2022, well above the national rate of 4.1% and nearly double the 3.1% benchmark set by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) based on prior years’ compounded growth.

The jump translates to a new total of $10,264 in average healthcare spending per resident, according to a report (PDF) issued by the commission’s Center for Health Information and Analysis on Thursday. Healthcare spending in the state has consistently exceeded prior years’ benchmarks since 2017.

The center’s data include...

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