from the Massachusetts Municipal Association:

May 5, 2016

Administration and Finance Secretary Kristen Lepore has announced that local governments are no longer required to submit a report by June 30 each year indicating whether they have taken any action to reduce health insurance costs.
 
This annual reporting requirement was part of 801 CMR 52:00, the municipal health insurance regulations, which accompanied the 2011 reform law. Municipalities were required to file a report the secretary of Administration and Finance outlining their health insurance plan design and the maximum possible savings that would be generated if they were to engage in the municipal health insurance reform process.
 
Throughout 2015, the Baker administration solicited feedback on all executive department regulations. Based on feedback from local officials during this process, the administration eliminated the reporting requirement.
 
Municipal health insurance reform law allows cities and towns to change health insurance plan designs outside the traditional collective bargaining process by entering the Group Insurance Commission or making plan design changes that mirror the most-subscribed GIC plan. To date, at least 257 local governments have adopted the reform tool or made changes using the law as leverage for a collective savings of approximately $250 million statewide.

Templeton selectmen decided to stay with the more expensive plan at the request of town employees.

posted by Jeff Bennett