Senate sends governor hospital funding bill
Antonio Caban/SHNS
The senate voted to send a hospital bill that would avoid a controversial ballot question to the governor.
The Senate on Thursday shipped to the governor a health care bill that avoids a ballot question redistributing hospital revenues, benefiting hospitals that now receive less insurance compensation.
The compromise worked out between a major health care union, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, and the state's largest private sector employer, Partners HealthCare, moved with alacrity through the two branches Thursday.
The bill (H 4348) would direct $120 million over five years to hospitals across the state, jump-start a dormant commission, and siphon funding otherwise destined for the Center for Health Information and Analysis.
Worked out in private, the deal, which avoids what would likely be a costly ballot referendum fight, was announced by Gov. Charlie Baker and legislative leaders Wednesday and sent to the governor's desk Thursday night.
The ballot campaign led by the union would have set floors and ceilings for negotiated prices between private insurers and health care providers. The union agreed to drop the ballot campaign if the negotiated deal is signed by Baker.
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