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After the State House of Representatives presented their version of the State budget for fiscal year 2003, the State Senate released their version this week. As a result, there is some negotiating that has to occur before the budget can be finalized by July 1. The two versions of the budget will be debated by members of the House and Senate conference committee after the full Senate completes its debate next week.
From a hospital standpoint, the most important discrepancies in each version center around three issues—Uncompensated Care Pool Relief, Medicaid eligibility changes, and Medicaid rate relief for hospitals and physicians. The House and Senate’s proposed figures for each of these budget items are highlighted in the chart above.
In fiscal year 2001, BWH’s uncompensated care pool expenses totaled $14 million and the hospital’s Medicaid losses reached $18 million. BWH physicians experienced an additional $2.8 million loss due to poor Medicaid reimbursements.
Look for more updates on the State’s budget process in upcoming issues of BWH Bulletin.