Aetna buys Medicity; states inconsistently review premium increases;

> Massachusetts's largest physician group, Massachusetts Medical Society, gave a partial endorsement to a global payment plan--a new health insurance plan that would put everyone who has health insurance on an year-to-year medical spending budget, with the prospect of lower rates for spending less, the Boston Herald reports. Article

> Private insurance plans might be better at controlling healthcare costs than Medicare, according to a Health Affairs study released Tuesday morning, according to FierceHealthcare. Largely because of their more stringent reviews for the use of medical services, private insurance plans might be better at containing costs. Article

 > Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Texas Health Resources are disputing over their contract. Blue Cross says Texas Health is demanding an additional $120 million over three years to cover cost increases. The insurer says it contributes $178 million to Texas Health's annual profits and that the hospital system makes a 30 percent profit margin from Blue Cross members, according to the Dallas Morning News. Article

> And finally ... Want to buy fireworks in England? Better be older than 16. Article