Nov 30, 2018 - Health

A hospital merger with price caps

Bob Herman

The entrance to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. — Beth Israel Deaconess is merging with Lahey Health. Photo: David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Lahey Health, 2 large hospital systems located around Boston, have gotten the green light for their closely watched merger — but there’s a significant catch. They can't raise prices above a certain threshold.

The bottom line: The deal is pretty remarkable because each party signed off on price controls, an idea that usually is anathema to the industry.

Details: Over the next 7 years, the new system cannot raise prices above 3%, a statewide benchmark Massachusetts has set to keep health care spending low. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said the cap would save patients $1 billion.

Yes, but: The cap expires, and there's a loophole. Beth Israel Lahey Health "may petition the [state attorney general] to reopen the system-wide price constraint for revision," according to the settlement. For example, the hospitals can ask for revisions if local inflation rises above 4.5% annually.

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A hospital merger with price caps

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