Bending the cost curve in Massachusetts.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS

With a package of new initiatives, Massachusetts intends to bring down health care costs, improve access to primary care, and establish quality and cost disclosures for providers and insurers alike.

"This legislation is crucial for the future vitality of our health care system and our economy," says Senate President Therese Murray. The law tackles a wide array of traditional expenses and emphasizes prevention and reduction of duplications and mistakes.

THE NEW LAW:

* Creates a commission to restructure the current payment system with incentives for "efficient and effective care." The state will give consumers price and performance information and require providers and insurers to report when costs and quality measurements change.

* Requires health care providers and insurers to explain any cost or premium increases and assigns the attorney general to represent consumers who question any increased charges.

* Allocates $25 million for the statewide adoption of electronic medical records by 2015.

* Requires that all physicians be competent in using health information technology by 2015.

* Sets a statewide standard for uniform billing and coding among all providers and insurance companies to reduce administrative costs.

* Authorizes the development of a formal list of medical mistakes (such as operating on the wrong organ) and prohibits health providers from charging patients for those errors.

* Requires reporting of errors in drug prescribing or...