Massachusetts Legislature Approves Support for Fiscally-Strained Health Care Institutions
The Massachusetts Legislature this month enacted bill H.4530, a supplemental budget that directs $234 million in aid to hospitals and community health centers across the Commonwealth.
The supplemental budget addresses a widening funding gap in the Health Safety Net program, which pays acute care hospitals and community health centers for necessary medical care for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured Massachusetts residents. The bill strategically distributes aid to institutions facing the greatest financial strain while serving the most vulnerable populations.
On the Cape and Islands, the following hospitals will receive direct relief under this program:
Cape Cod Hospital – $3,436,746
Martha’s Vineyard Hospital – $1,042,937
Falmouth Hospital – $577,773
“Cape Cod and the Islands rely heavily on community-based health centers and regional hospitals that serve as the frontline of care,” said Representative Thomas Moakley (D-Falmouth). “This funding will provide much-needed stability for providers that care for our residents in the face of massive cuts from the federal government. I’m proud that the Massachusetts Legislature is stepping up to protect access to affordable health care in the commonwealth.”
The funding package includes:
$122 million to struggling acute care hospitals, with clear reporting requirements
$77 million transferred into the Health Safety Net, stabilizing care for uninsured and underinsured
$35 million in financial relief for community health centers, including technical support
