Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues., March 19, 2024

Today’s Big Story:  House To Consider Proposed Constitutional Amendment To Provide Greater Access To Voting.

I think it will pass.  Why?  Because it’s the first leg of an amendment that must be passed in two consecutive General Assembly sessions.  Making this one a free vote. Also because the Rethugs did this before. Passed a similar amendment in 2020 only to unanimously vote against it in the last General Assembly, thus sending it back to Square One.  The bill has already passed the Senate, straight party-line vote.  I look for endangered (if not nearly-extinct) Rethugs like Ramone, Smith and Yearick to vote for it so that they can pretend they’re for democracy.  We know better, don’t we?  Oops, never mind.  The bill has been removed from today’s House Agenda.  I know not why, but I betcha someone out there can tell us–either in the comments, or at least via the Tip Line.  Rethugs are probably pushing for something–perhaps parking space upgrades.

Let’s start again. Today’s Big Story: Sen. McBride Unlocks Potentially $100 Mill In Medicaid Funding:

McBride says her Protect Medicaid Act of 2024 would bring Delaware’s Medicaid program its largest ongoing infusion of federal funding since the Affordable Care Act.

The federal government matches every two dollars a state invests in Medicaid with about three dollars. This bill would require hospitals to assess and pay 3.58 percent of their net patient revenue, which the federal government would also match.

“Some of that money will return to the hospitals, making them whole, ensuring that there is no reason to pass on any of that upfront investment cost on to patients,” McBride says. “That then leaves a significant amount of money in that pot from the federal matching funds that then can be used for, essentially, discretionary Medicaid spending.”

McBride says that could include improving reimbursement rates for providers, expanding coverage, or building out innovative policies.

Westside Healthcare Chief Operating Officer Chris Fraser says for them, that could mean a food and nutritional program or paying for community health workers. Fraser adds that funding will make a difference for the nearly 1 in 3 Delawareans who receive acute and long-term health care through Medicaid.

McBride says 44 other states already use hospital assessments to bring in federal funds. Delaware has not been able to get hospital provider support for the plan until now.

Previous attempts to enact this plan failed, McBride noting failed attempts from former Governors Ruth Ann Minner and Jack Markell. ChristianaCare CEO Janice Nevin says McBride’s willingness to collaborate with state healthcare leaders made the difference this time.

McBride’s proven ability and desire to collaborate is next-level.  The bill will be introduced today.  I’ll link to it once it’s posted.

Here is today’s House Agenda.  A good set of bills.  HS 1/HB 286 (Spiegelman) ,which ‘prohibits discrimination in life insurance based on genetic characteristics, genetic information, or the result of any genetic test; and HB 15 (Longhurst), which ‘requires all individual, blanket, and group health insurance policies to cover annual ovarian cancer screening tests for women at risk for ovarian cancer’, are the most notable.

The highlight of today’s Senate Agenda is SB 232 (Gay), which ‘expands the contraceptive coverage laws to include over-the-counter non-emergency contraceptive pills.’

Today’s House Committee highlights:

There’s something hinky about HB 259 (Spiegelman).  Or, more likely, it’s special interest legislation that benefits Delaware’s craft alcoholic beverage industry.  The bill ‘facilitates the interstate and intrastate shipping and delivery of alcoholic liquors. Section 2 of this Act does all of the following: (1) Authorizes the direct shipping of wine, beer, spirits, mead, or cider to consumers in this State if the alcoholic liquor is manufactured by a person licensed as a farm winery, microbrewery, or craft distillery in this State or by a person located in another state that would qualify as a farm winery, microbrewery, or craft distillery under the laws of this State.’  The bill does not:  ‘create any new or additional authorization to ship alcoholic beverages directly to a consumer.’  G-d forbid.  Typical Delaware parochial legislation at its worst.  Business Lapdog Committee.

HB 17 (Morrison) ‘requires all employers in the State to provide employees with a minimum of 1 hour of earned sick time and safety leave for every 30 hours worked.’  Great bill, lotsa sponsors.  Man, I was so wrong about Rep. Morrison.  At first I feared that he would follow in the footsteps of a certain gasbag of a former legislator who never got anything done.  In fact, he’s an exceedingly skilled and effective legislator.  Mea culpa. Labor.

No Senate committee meetings today.

Looks like my work is done here.