100K Bay Staters could lose health coverage under House bill

STATE NEWS IN BRIEF

Tens of thousands of Bay Staters could lose subsidized health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector and premiums could rise for most other members under a suite of reforms in the U.S. House-approved reconciliation bill that Gov. Maura Healey dubbed "devastating."

For months, officials and health care activists have been warning about major impacts to MassHealth from the Medicaid changes sought by Republicans in Congress, who want to fund tax cuts and rein in what they describe as wasteful spending.

But the sweeping package that cleared the U.S. House last week features many other provisions that could also impact state-run health insurance marketplaces, including limitations on tax credit eligibility for some immigrants and a shorter open enrollment period.

Massachusetts Health Connector Executive Director Audrey Morse Gasteier said as many as 100,000 people - roughly a quarter of all who get their health insurance through the marketplace - could lose their coverage.

Taken alongside the roughly 150,000 other people who would lose MassHealth eligibility, Morse Gasteier said the House-approved bill would effectively double the number of Bay Staters without health insurance.

Healey looks to cut regulatory red tape

The Healey administration is cutting or amending a quarter of all regulations under the oversight of the public-facing Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, an effort that officials say is intended to save businesses time and money.

The regulatory updates touch different types of businesses, including grocery stores, ski areas, barber shops, retail stores, banks and credit unions, telecommunications and electric companies, and others.

Gov. Maura Healey in January directed the office to conduct a review to make it easier to do business in the state, and she announced her plans at a State House press conference Wednesday morning.

Feds allege MBTA workers falsified track inspection reports

Four former MBTA inspectors and one current T supervisor pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges that they falsified Red Line track inspection records while using an agency garage as their own "automobile repair shop."

Prosecutors alleged the quintet of employees submitted or greenlit reports last fall describing track inspection work, despite surveillance video showing them engaged in conversation, using cellphones or working on motor vehicles at the same times that the inspections supposedly took place.

Prosecutors charged 62-year-old Ronald Gamble of Dorchester, 42-year-old Jensen Vatel of Brockton, 53-year-old Nathalie Mendes of New Bedford, 36-year-old Andy Vicente of Bridgewater and 47-year-old Brian Pfaffinger of Marshfield with falsification of records and making false statements.

All five pleaded not guilty, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office.

- State House News Service