Massachusetts Governor Expected To Make Further Cuts to State Budget This Week

Massachusetts acting Gov. Jane Swift (R) on Sept. 30 announced plans to use "emergency powers" to cut almost $200 million from the state budget, affecting several health care programs in the state, the Boston Herald reports. Although administration officials would "not confirm" which programs would be cut, the Massachusetts Human Services Coalition released lists of services facing cuts, including $4 million from the Department of Public Health. Swift is also expected to cut $3.3 million from the new Prescription Advantage program, which offers less expensive drugs to seniors, and $6.5 million from the state's home care program for the elderly, affecting services for 5,454 seniors. Al Norman, executive director of the Massachusetts Home Care Association, said, "This is sort of like getting hit with a door -- it's going to ache for quite a while." In addition to this latest round of cuts aimed at balancing the state's budget, Swift will ask state lawmakers to consider "revenue raising options" they did not approve last year, such as limiting state lottery payouts and requiring state workers to pay more for health insurance, according to the Herald (Beardsley, Boston Herald, 10/1).