Michael Sroczynski News Today

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts plans to stop requiring hospitals to get prior approval for certain services, in an effort to speed up discharges for patients stuck in hospitals.

Lawmakers appear increasingly likely to make hospital expansions and closures an area of scrutiny this session, fueled in part by the planned shutdown of a Leominster maternity ward that has drawn vociferous criticism.

Medicare reimbursement for Albany area hospitals would grow by nearly $200 million annually. Other New York hospitals would get a boost too.

Massachusetts hospitals are turning to overtime to ease staffing shortages.

Nurses say the moves could worsen staffing shortages.

Dr. Robbie Goldstein is also an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital.