The Boston Globe has reported that the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Martha Coakley, has launched an investigation into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Partners HealthCare.  Partners HealthCare owns several Massachusetts hospitals, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

According to the Boston Globe, the Attorney General is investigating whether alleged agreements between Blue Cross and Partners were illegally collusive and caused a rise in the Commonwealth’s health insurance premiums.  Blue Cross and Partners told the Globe that they deny any wrongdoing, and that the rise in premiums is due to increases in health care costs, attributable to new medical technology, the growing incidence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, and nationwide trends.

The full Boston Globe article is available by clicking here.