Payments to Massachusetts safety net hospitals would decrease by millions of dollars under proposed reimbursement rules that are part of the state's new health insurance law, according to state projections, the Boston Globe reports. Under the proposed rules, the state's Free Care Pool -- which was funded by insurance companies and provided reimbursements to hospitals for treating uninsured patients -- would change into the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, which will pay hospitals for treating patients who fail to obtain health insurance. All residents were required to obtain health coverage by July 1, and uninsured residents could face tax penalties beginning next year.

Safety net hospitals say that few residents in low-income communities have enrolled…