Commisioner plans review of state hospitals
The Baker administration plans a "top-to-bottom" review of state hospitals seeking to make the facilities more efficient in providing care to as many people as possible, Public Health commissioner Monica Bharel told the News Service Wednesday.
Rep. James Miceli, a Wilmington Democrat, opposes Gov. Charlie Baker's proposal to consolidate medical units in Tewksbury Hospital, which administration officials say would generate $3.8 million in savings.
At a budget hearing Wednesday, Miceli said the hospital is highly regarded and questioned administration claims that the savings plan would not reduce the level of care.
After a meeting of the Public Health Council on Wednesday, Bharel stressed that state officials are "still working out the details related to Tewksbury."
The budget plan would move 16 patients to other beds within the hospital and require placement outside the hospital for another 12 patients. The consolidation would result in the loss of 48 employees.
"Remember this is the beginning of the process," Bharel said.
After legislative budget-writers hold a series of hearings around the state, the House will pass its version of Baker's $38.1 billion budget, followed by the Senate, and then a House-Senate compromise bill will be submitted to Gov. Charlie Baker for his signature.
"The plan for the public health hospitals is to do a top-to-bottom analysis and investigations of how we can be most efficient and still provide care to the most number of people," Bharel said.
She said, "The state hospitals we see as an ultimate last resort for people who have nowhere else to go and we want to make sure we provide that critical service."
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