hospital ChristianaCare

State moves to control hospital budgets to lower health costs

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Delaware’s hospitals soon could be governed by a politically appointed state board charged with examining and approving hospital budgets and invested with the power to demand changes and punish those that don’t meet its guidelines. House Bill 350 would create the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board under the Department of Health and Social Services. It will try to keep …

SB 219 would penalize those who misrepresent an animal as a service animal $500 on the first offense. (Photo by 24K-Production/iStock Getty Images)

New bill could penalize those lying about service animal

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Government

A proposed law in Delaware would punish residents who lie about their animal being a service or assistance animal. Sponsored by Sen. Dave Lawson, R- Marydel, and Rep. Danny Short, R-Seaford, Senate Bill 219 would create penalties for misrepresentation of a service animal under the Delaware Equal Accommodations Law and misrepresentation of an assistance animal under the Delaware Fair Housing …

revenue

State heading into years of near-level revenues, board says

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

Delaware can expect a revenue surplus of $364.8 million heading into the 2025 fiscal year. It can also expect a few years of plateaued revenues instead of the nearly $1 billion surpluses of recent years. Some legislators would argue the state doesn’t have surplus in reality, because that money will be needed for expected rises in costs for a number …

benchmark

Panel: Keep state budget benchmark, make it part of code

Betsy PriceGovernment, Headlines

A state review panel will recommend that Delaware not only keep a budget benchmark appropriation that limits the growth of the state budget, but also put it into law. The Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council‘s Benchmark Evaluation and Review Panel also agreed to suggest that incoming legislators undergo training in how the state budget works. DEFAC chairman Michael Houghton …

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Legislature to reconvene to tackle Medicare Advantage

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

In response to protests by state government retirees who say they were left in the dark over a significant change to their health insurance, the General Assembly unveiled a bill Monday aimed at creating additional oversight. The House of Representatives and Senate will hold a special session in Dover on Oct. 26 to debate and vote on the bill. Pensioners …

Gun Debate

House committee OKs semi-automatic, under 21 purchase ban

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Bills to ban semi-automatic firearms and restrict the purchase of guns by Delawareans 21 and older were released from a House committee Wednesday and will advance to the House floor for a vote. The hearing attracted a crowd of well over 100 concerned citizens on both sides of the issue, many of whom filled lawmakers’ seats in the House chamber. …

Medical

Medical privacy bill threatens parental rights, GOP reps say

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

All 15 Republican state representatives have taken a stand against a bill they say is designed to usurp parental authority. House Bill 400, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, would allow dependents on insurance policies – adults and children – to receive “confidential sensitive health care services” without notifying the policyholder. The bill has been dubbed the “Delaware Patient Privacy …

text

$300 checks are on the way. Here’s what you need to know

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Photo/Getty Images Delawareans will soon receive $300 checks thanks to a bipartisan direct relief bill signed Thursday by Gov. John Carney. The bill, aimed at helping Delawareans faced with high gas prices and soaring inflation, consists of a one-time payment to every state taxpayer who filed a 2020 tax return. “Delaware families are dealing with higher costs at the grocery …

Delaware Mask 2

Republican lawmakers to Carney: ‘End the mandates, restore normality’

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines

Twelve Republican state representatives on Tuesday sent an open letter to Gov. John Carney asking that he reconsider mask mandates in state buildings and schools and stop advocating for COVID-19 booster shots. They encouraged the Democratic governor to promptly end all pandemic-related restrictions, return state workers to their normal places of employment, and “restore normality” for all Delawareans. The legislators …

Healthcare 1

Dem. bill would guarantee health insurance for undocumented children

Charles MegginsonGovernment, Headlines, Health

Left: Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax. Right: Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington North. Democratic lawmakers plan to file a bill in the General Assembly Friday that would guarantee health insurance for all Delaware children who are not otherwise covered, including undocumented immigrant children. House Bill 317, sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, and Sen. Sarah McBride, D-Wilmington North, would direct the Department …