Agreement Reached To Reduce Health Care Costs For Massachusetts Cities and Towns
BOSTON (AP) - An agreement has been reached at the Statehouse on a plan to reduce the cost to Massachusetts cities and towns of providing health care for municipal employees.
Gov. Deval Patrick issued a statement late Friday saying he plans to file amendments Monday to a municipal health care reform bill sent to him by the Legislature as part of the state budget last week. He said the changes will make "a few improvements" and deliver cost savings to municipalities while also giving organized labor a say in the process.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray both said Friday they support the changes.
The House and Senate are expected to vote on the amendments Monday.
Unions representing public employees had complained the changes would strip members of rights to bargain for health care benefits.
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