Mass. towns turning to new options for workers' health care; Michigan forces localities to cap health spending

Two news outlets look at efforts by local governments to curb their health care expenses -- both in Massachusetts and Michigan.

The Boston Globe: Towns Curbing Health Care Bills
Cities and towns north of Boston are stepping up efforts to rein in employee health-care costs following the recent adoption of state legislation bolstering their power to make changes. The new local option law allows communities to change the design of their health care plans or transfer their employees to the state's Group Insurance Commission system by following a specified process that includes an expedited union bargaining period (Laidler, 8/25). 

The Associated Press/Washington Post: In Another Blow To Unions, Mich. Limits Local Government And School District Health Payouts
Michigan Republicans dealt another blow to public employee unions Wednesday as they pushed ahead with a plan to force local governments and school districts to cap health care spending or risk losing state aid, a move that would require workers to pay more for coverage and limit officials' ability to negotiate local contracts (8/24).