Massachusetts adjusts health services surcharge that funds care for uninsured

Massachusetts regulators have slightly reduced the annual surcharge on services received at hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers in the state.

The surcharge, which applies to bills paid on or after Oct. 1 and through Sept. 30, 2016, will be 1.86%, down from 1.87%.

The reduction, disclosed Friday by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, is imposed on third-party claims administrators, health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations and self-insured employers that administer their own health care plans.

Massachusetts will use the $160 million in revenue the surcharge is expected to generate to, among other things, reimburse hospitals and community centers for care provided to the uninsured.