THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, SEpTEmbEr 26, 2025 Page 5 Rep. Wong backs bill providing $234M to fi scally S tate Representative Donald Wong (R-Saugus) supported a supplemenstrained hospitals and community health centers infusion of state aid will help support massachusetts’ health care system WONG | SEE PAGE 6 tal spending bill that will steer $234 million in one-time state aid payments to dozens of acute care hospitals and community health centers across the state. The proposal, which was fi led as House Bill 4530, was passed (148-1) by the House of Representatives on September 17. On the 18th, the Senate passed by bill, and the Legislature enacted it on the same day. On September 22, 2025, the Governor signed the bill, which became Chapter 33 of the Acts of 2025. Representative Wong said the bill will provide $122 million to nearly four dozen acute care hospitals, with funding eligibility for individual hospitals determined primarily based on the facility’s public payer mix, relative price, and negative operating margins. Chapter 33 also requires the secretary of the Executive Offi ce of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) to submit a report to the legislature detailing the schedule of payments and how each hospital intends to utilize the funding. Another $77 million will be transferred into the Health Safety Net Trust Fund, which reimburses acute care hospitals and community health centers for health services provided to eligible low-income, uninsured and underinsured residents. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, the Health Safety Net Trust Fund experienced a shortfall of $197 million, but a recent report issued by the Centers for Health Information and Analysis noted that the fund’s defi cit was projected to reach $250 million in FY 2025 and $290 million in the current fi scal year. Representative Wong said most of the remaining $35 million authorized in the bill will be allocated to community health centers that demonstrate significant financial needs, as determined by EOHHS in consultation with the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (MLCHC). The MLCHC will be provided with $2.5 million of this Gerry D’Ambrosio Attorney-at-Law Is Your Estate in Order? Do you have an update Will, Health Care Proxy or Power of Attorney? If Not, Please Call for a Free Consultation. 14 Proctor Avenue, Revere (781) 284-5657 SABATINO/MASTROCOLA INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of ALWAYS READY TO SERVE YOU: Our Staff are, Emma Davidson, Jeimy Sanchez, Josephine Leone, Marie D’Amore, Rocco Longo, Z’andre Lopez, Anthony DiPierro, Darius Goudreau, Laurette Murphy, Danielle Goudreau and Tina Davidson. PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM
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