New England Medical Center, Inc. v. Rate Setting Commission

The main issue presented by this action is whether the Rate Setting Commission (commission) is authorized by G. L. c. 176A, § 5, to withdraw its approval of an existing interim agreement regulating reimbursement rates between Blue Cross of Massachusetts, Inc. (Blue Cross), and ninety-five Massachusetts hospitals on the ground that negotiations between the parties had not produced a proposed final contract by the commission’s deadline. The plaintiff hospitals challenge the commission’s decision on the ground that it exceeded the scope of the commission’s powers. We agree. We hold that the…