Today's Globe: fewer batterers in programs, healthcare coalition's challenge

As domestic homicides more than doubled in Massachusetts, judges across the state sent only about half as many batterers to abuse intervention programs last year as they did in 2003, according to public health officials.

"If only this were Utah, where the healthy Mormon lifestyle keeps costs down, or Minnesota, which is not so dominated by expensive teaching hospitals and specialists," a Globe editorial says. "But Massachusetts has one great advantage over other states - the coalition of groups that put the healthcare package together two years ago. ... They now need to figure out ways to control costs, maintain quality, and get new money into the system when absolutely necessary."