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House Minority Leader Chippendale Statement on the FY24 Budget

 

State House, Providence – House Minority Leader Michael Chippendale offers the following statement on the FY24 budget:

The Fiscal Year 2024 budget process in the House was different than previous years for the House Minority Caucus. When the governor released his budget in February, leadership in the House Minority worked collaboratively with leadership in the Majority to craft a better budget for Rhode Island citizens and small businesses.

As we do during each budget process, we identified a number of concerns in the budget bill.  As each issue was explored and a proposed solution reached, we worked with House Fiscal Staff and the Speaker’s office to integrate approximately two dozen good-government proposals into the budget. While this may not be the exact budget that I would have created, it is a budget that I can support.

One of our greatest achievements was in offering major reforms in Medicaid language that cost the state nothing, but avoids potential compliance fines from the federal government, and gains greater access to federal funding.  This could result in millions of dollars, previously unattainable, that could enhance and improve healthcare and education services in our state.

Key budget takeaways that House Republicans championed:

Next year will present formidable budgetary challenges for Rhode Island, where we must maintain a keen focus on lowering the total budget costs going forward, as the one-time federal funds will no longer be available. House Republicans are dedicated to building upon the good government reforms we championed this year and commit to continuing our fight for fiscal sustainability for the benefit of all our citizens, businesses and communities.

 

 

House Minority Caucus Medicaid Amendments Incorporated into FY24 Budget

Creating millions of dollars in savings, transparency and oversight for Rhode Island taxpayers

 

State House, Providence – The House Minority Caucus was able to incorporate cost neutral accountability amendments into the FY24 budget, that will result in increased savings to the taxpayer and more transparency in government.

 

Below were the amendments negotiated with the Speaker:

  1. Article III: Government Reform

A new requirement that all state agencies report on their progress on corrective action plans from deficiencies discovered by the state auditor to the House and Senate Fiscal offices. This will improve legislative oversight and agency accountability to lawmakers and the public. This provision will be very important especially to large programs like the Medicaid program where numerous issues of failed compliance and inefficiencies cost taxpayers and reduce government effectiveness.

 

  1. Article IX: Medical Assistance

A new requirement for the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to report to the General Assembly all federally required health quality measures in Medicaid to the General Assembly, including child health, adult health and health home quality measures. This will ensure compliance with federal law, and improve legislative oversight of the Medicaid program.

 

  1. Article IV: Taxes

A temporary provision that exempts individuals who lose Medicaid coverage in 2023 from the uninsured tax penalty. This provision will better ensure that no individual is penalized for being uninsured after losing Medicaid coverage from the ending of the public health emergency and the unwinding of Medicaid continuous eligibility

 

Other Medicaid provisions previously advocated for and secured by the House Minority Caucus:

  1. The hospital state directed managed care payment program. This new program will help increase Medicaid rates paid to hospitals while establishing new quality metrics that must be met for the hospital to receive payment
  2. The expansion of the Sherlock Plan through the federal Ticket to Work option. This will allow disabled individuals ages 16-64 to work and retain Medicaid coverage. This will improve and increase the number of individuals with disability who can participate in the work force in Rhode Island.
  3. The reform of the hospital licensing fees to come into compliance with federal law and regulations. Rhode Island has been out of compliance in how this fee was charged to hospitals. The FY 24 budget changes this fee structure to come in compliance with federal law.

 

The House Minority Caucus wishes to thank the Speaker and the House Finance Committee for including these important provisions into this year’s budget.