In January, 196 Rhode Islanders signed our letter to Gov. McKee demanding an increase in Medicaid spending. Since then, we have received McKee’s draft budget. To be perfectly honest, many of DSA’s positions – first and foremost “Do Not Make Any Unnecessary Cuts to Medicaid” – were roundly ignored.
In fact, the governor withheld $80 million in state monies to various programs that were even endorsed by his very own Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). These included funds for behavioral health, dental investments and raises in the minimum wage levels for childcare providers, home healthcare workers and nursing facility personnel. And here’s the kicker -- since the Feds will match 60% of Medicaid-reimbursed programs, an additional $48 million was left on the table.
Other casualties of the governor’s whittling knife, which were endorsed not just by DSA but also by the EOHHS and totaled $10.4 million in state funds and $6.18 million in federal funds, were:
Item 23-11142: Early Intervention Rate Increase, which will ensure that infants with serious health emergencies will get the healthcare they need, rather than being refused treatment, which happens too often;
Item 23-11198: Adult Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Residential Rates – Medicaid Program, which will increase the services available to Rhode Islanders suffering in the opioid epidemic by claiming federal funds currently available to the state;
Item 23-11225: Pediatric Rate Increases, which increases the ability of providers to give quality pediatric care by paying them better;
Item 23-11015: Contractors to FTE Conversion FY 2023, an important step in de-privatizing EOHHS and saving taxpayers and consumers unnecessary costs.
On the reverse -- or should it be “perverse”? -- side of the coin, two EOHHS items that DSA opposed did make it on the governor’s wish list:
Item 23-11220: Health Spending Accountability and Transparency Act, a proposal to give the health insurance industry greater power in the Rhode Island Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) — the very agency which is supposed to oversee them; and
Item [22]/[23]-11246: Medicaid National Fingerprint Background Checks, a measure intended to make Medicaid less accessible.
But before we succumb to despair, we should be encouraged to know that two important items supported by DSA did make it into the proposed budget.
Item 23-11227: MCO Enrollment Continuity for DOC discharges: a criminal justice reform which protects people leaving prison from being deprived of healthcare; and most especially
Item 23-11149: Cover All Kids, which will cover the 8% of children in Rhode Island currently ineligible for healthcare based on their immigration status.
Of course, none of this is written in stone and only time will tell what makes it into the final budget and what ends up on the cutting floor. If you would like to learn more about our efforts to increase the Medicaid budget and achieve greater health outcomes for Rhode Island, attend our upcoming free community event:
Discusión Comunitario sobre Medicare para Todos / Community Discussion on Medicare for All
More info and registration here.
A hybrid event in partnership with the Olneyville Neighborhood Association and Physicians for a National Health Program RI featuring State Representative David Morales
WHEN:
Wednesday, March 9 at 7 pm
WHERE:
In-person at Olneyville Community Library, 1 Olneyville Square, Providence
Virtually via zoom
Photo credit: Mike Bodall