The Massachusetts Association of Health Plans held its 9th annual health policy conference, Focusing on the 90 Percent. The conference examined measures for dealing with underlying health care costs, which account for the bulk of how the premium dollar is spent, and steps for addressing those costs.

Areas of focus included: where are the main cost drivers, what does the rising cost of health care mean for economic growth and personal incomes, and what are the challenges policymakers, health care providers, health plans, employers and consumers face in tackling rising health care costs.

As part of the conference, CEPR Co-Director Dean Baker spoke about rising health care costs.