Mass. House unveils health care payment bill

BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts House leaders have unveiled a health care payment bill they say will lower family premiums by nearly $2,000 annually over the next five years.

The bill detailed Friday is designed to cut waste and duplication from the health care system while rewarding doctors and hospitals for keeping patients healthy instead of paying them for each operation or service they provide.

The bill would also create a new consumer website with price and quality information categorized by medical procedure to help patients compare hospitals and insurers.

It would also overhaul medical malpractice laws by letting doctors apologize without fearing a lawsuit and creating a 180-day "cooling off period" to give both sides a chance to reach a settlement.

The Senate is expected to unveil its version of the bill next week.