BOSTON (WWLP) - Top State House lawmakers say Massachusetts' healthcare system is falling apart, as healthcare spending increased by 8.6% between 2022 and 2023. This increase in spending is more than double the benchmark, and signals the impact of private equity and for-profit healthcare. In a healthcare financing commission hearing this week, the Senate chair spoke to the gravity of the failing system. "It's getting harder every day for our residents to get the care they need. We hear about a system in crisis. We're beyond that. It is now falling apart," said Arlington Democrat Senator Cindy Friedman. Several hearing attendees asked the state to focus on cracking down on pharmacies, but the chair says it's more complicated than that. The Senator noted that stakeholders from pharmacy owners to community health centers say their funding is far too low, and the senate needs to investigate where healthcare dollars are really going. One health policy expert explained the impact of raising prices on families, and how it can lead to poor health outcomes. "As healthcare spending grows as a portion of household income, more and more families are incurring medical debt and delay or skip needed care," said Deborah Devaux, chair of the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission. These talks of reform come after major healthcare legislation was passed last session, including strengthening hospital oversight and lowering prescription drug costs. The latest spending report does not cover the time after these laws were enacted, but top officials say they expect they will still need to revisit these issues in the coming months. Local News Headlines Excitement builds as the 72nd Holyoke Saint Patrick’s Parade inches closer State House Spotlight: Advocates flood Beacon Hill Yeshiva Academy celebrates Purim in Longmeadow with live music and performances Spring temps arrive early in western Massachusetts 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. ...read more read less