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The growth of health care spending moderated in Massachusetts last year, the state reported Wednesday, a sign that its ground-breaking experiment to rein in medical costs is making tentative progress. Outlays rose 3.9 percent, a figure that is down from a 4.2 percent increase in 2014 and that matches the state’s economic growth, according to the new data. Spending most likely rose at a slower pace here than nationally, a change from years past — and an accomplishment given that Massachusetts has some of the most expensive hospitals and doctors in the country. (Dayal McCluskey, 9/7)

Massachusetts came really close last year. The goal was to hold the rise in health care spending to 3.6 percent, roughly the rate of increase for other goods and services. But the cost of medicine, surgery, an MRI and other health care went up 3.9 percent in 2015. (Bebinger, 9/7)