Executives at Boston-based Partners HealthCare are asking employees to lobby against some of the provisions in Massachusetts' proposed healthcare bill, which hospital officials argue will unfairly target its health system, according to The Boston Globe.
The health system's officials sent emails Friday to most of the organization's 73,000 employees, detailing the potential consequences of the legislation.
The proposed bill aims to constrain medical costs by setting a statewide benchmark for hospital spending growth, which is estimated to be 2.7 percent. If hospitals in the state collectively exceed this spending cap, the three hospitals with the highest commercial spending will be penalized.
Partner's executives are expecting Boston-based Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital — which are owned by Partner's — to be targeted.
"Our Academic Medical Centers could be subjected to massive financial penalties even if they meet or come in under that benchmark," Partners executives wrote in a memo to employees, according to The Boston Globe. "That provision could take tens — even hundreds — of millions of dollars from our hospitals. It would have a profound impact on all Partners institutions and our ability to care for our patients."
The memo adds that hospital leaders will provide opportunities for employees to voluntarily contact legislators about the bill.
State Senators plan to debate the bill this week. The bill would additionally need approval from the House and governor before it could be implemented.