NEWS FLASH

Massachusetts Passes Bill To Control Health Costs | The Massachusetts legislature approved a bill today that aims to save $200 billion over the next 15 years by connecting health care cost increases to the state’s economic growth. Gov. Deval Patrick (D) is expected to sign the legislation, which passed the House 132-20 and was unanimous in the Senate. The new measure follows up on the state’s 2006 health care overhaul that then-Gov. Mitt Romney (R) backed. The original law focuses primarily on insurance coverage, so the new bill will address the underlying costs of health care that push up the prices for insurance premiums.