On Beacon Hill...
Governor Jane Swift announced that she is paring $350 million from the budget adopted by the legislature. Swift’s vetoes include:Distressed hospitals.
The veto message reduces funds for distressed hospitals from $15 million to $6 million. The veto message states this is “the amount projected to be necessary.”
Non-profit providers.
The veto message eliminates the $3.5 million in distressed provider payments that would have been available to nursing homes and home health agencies.
Physician rates.
The veto message eliminates the $5 million increase in Medicaid payments to non-hospital physicians because Governor Swift’s FY 03 budget did not include this item.
Public health programs:
Citing insufficient state revenues, the veto message reduces funding for a variety of public health efforts:
- Osteoporosis awareness program. . . cut by $267,000 to $75,000
- Prostate cancer prevention. . . cut by $2.4 million to $1 million
- Hepatitis C mitigation. . . cut by $832,000 to $2 million
- Multiple sclerosis programs. . . cut by $238,000 to $162,000
- Stroke education. . . cut by $300,000 to $200,000
- Breast cancer prevention. . . cut by $5.1 million to $3.5 million
- Smoking prevention expansion. . . cut by $12.7 million to $24 million
- Smoking prevention & cessation. . . cut by $22.9 million to $11.3 million
Behavioral health study commission.
The veto message eliminates the study commission because the Governor views it as a duplication of ongoing efforts and notes that the responsible agencies are already working with the advocacy groups that would be named to the commission.
A number of health-related provisions were not vetoed. They include:
Uncompensated care pool.
The Governor has agreed to the $45 million in additional hospital uncompensated care pool payments by the state and $12 million in FY 02 shortfall relief.
MassHealth Basic.
The Governor has agreed to the MassHealth Basic revisions adopted by the legislature, significantly narrowing program eligibility beginning April 1, 2003. Uncompensated care pool spending is expected to increase as a result.
Department of Mental Health.
The Governor has accepted the DMH spending levels adopted by the legislature and made no additional cuts.
Nursing home and pharmacy assessment.
The Governor made no changes in this proposed new assessment and rate increase for nursing homes.
Board of Registration in Medicine.
The Governor agreed to the transfer of the Board to DPH but did not agree to changes in the board’s membership.
Methadone services.
The Governor accepted the methadone services spending level adopted by the legislature.
In Washington......
On the federal front, the House and Senate gave their approval to a compromise version of the Nurse Reinvestment Act and sent the measure on to the President for signature. The legislation authorizes scholarships, retention and patient safety enhancement grants, geriatric training grants, funds for loan forgiveness including a set aside for faculty loans, a career ladder grant program, and public service announcements to promote nursing. Our own Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) was the original author of this legislation in the Senate.