Former federal regulator leading new HPC pharma office
BOSTON (SHNS) – A pair of new state health care oversight offices have 'hit the ground running' since being established in a January law, and one is led by a former federal regulator with experience investigating pharmacy benefit managers, officials said Thursday.
The Health Policy Commission is now home to an Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which officials shorten as OPPA, and an Office of Health Resource Planning, or OHRP.
Lawmakers tasked the pharmaceutical office with examining spending data and crafting recommendations on how Massachusetts should handle the prescription drug industry, which policymakers have targeted for reforms over its status as a major driver of rising health care costs.
Matthew Frank started as OPPA's director Monday after five years working for the Federal Trade Commission. He also previously worked in the antitrust division at the Massachusetts attorney general's office.
'He did extraordinary and deeply relevant work at the FTC,' HPC Deputy Executive Director Coleen Elstermeyer said a meeting Thursday. 'In that role, he led some investigations into [pharmacy benefit managers], their market practices, their behaviors that were concerning and anti-competitive. He led a group of attorneys and economists on an industry study of PBMs as well, and he's also done some work looking at manufacturers who were allegedly, I would say, manipulating patent law to avoid having their drugs become eligible for generics.'
The HPC also promoted internally to fill the other new office, tapping Kara Vidal — who previously led the agency's work on cost-controlling performance improvement plans — as director of OHRP.
'This office is charged with developing a state health plan, looking at the supply of services — where do we have too much? Where do we have too little? How does it align with patient need, community need?' Elstermeyer said.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
American Medical Association rejects proposal for assisted suicide in Mass.
WALPOLE, Mass. (WWLP) – The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has declared that it does not support 'assisted death' in U.S. healthcare. The statement was shared at the association's most recent annual meeting. The AMA is the nation's largest organization representing physicians' unified voices. Committee not yet ready to act on assisted suicide proposal The association said that physician-assisted suicide goes against the physician's role as a healer and could pose serious societal risks. Assisted death has been a controversial topic among healthcare experts for decades. A report from the 2025 AMA Board of Trustees states, 'the profession of medicine should not support the legalization or practice of physician assisted suicide or see it as part of a physician's role.' The Massachusetts state legislature is currently reviewing Bill S.1486, also known as 'An Act relative to end of life options.' If this bill is passed, some physician-assisted suicide options would be legalized in the state. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Easthampton Fire Department teams with Baystate Health for blood drive
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The Easthampton Fire Department held a blood drive in collaboration with Baystate Health. Blood drives are held around the country every day, but this drive is special for western Massachusetts residents since the drive is held in collaboration with Baystate Health, and all of the donated blood stays right here in western Massachusetts at the Baystate Health hospitals. Five injured after Taunton crash in speeding BMW The Red Cross says that 13.6 million units of blood are collected through donations every year in the United States, but donated blood expires every 42 days, depending on the method used to store the blood. 'It is always a need, especially within the local communities. traumas, cancer center patients, heart and vascular patients,' said Baystate Health Transfusion Medical Services Supervisor, Nicole Vanzandt. 'We are always in need of blood.' Through just one blood donation, participants saved up to three lives. The average person donates about a pint or unit of blood when they donate, and the Red Cross says one car accident victim could need up to 100 units of blood, which would be 100 donors. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Health officials warns of suspected illness caused by Botox from this Massachusetts spa
BOSTON (WWLP) – Health officials are warning the public after an investigation revealed a cluster of cases related to the suspected illness from Botox performed at a spa in Milton. In a news release sent to 22News from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) on Saturday, 10 cases are linked to injections of cosmetic botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, that have caused a serious illness called iatrogenic botulism. According to the CDC, this may happen if too much is injected for cosmetic reasons. Massachusetts spa owner allegedly performed illegal, counterfeit injections These botulism cases are connected to Rodrigo Beauty located at 464 Granite Ave. in Milton. Those who had injections at this spa between May 1 and June 4 are urged to contact the public health department by calling 617-983-6800. Botulism is a rare but serious illness that occurs when the toxin attacks the body's nerves and can be life-threatening. Symptoms can include blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, or breathing difficulties following Botox injections. The agency said that people can prevent illness by getting injections only from licensed practitioners. The injections include doses of the toxins at levels that are mandated and approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.