Gov. Maura Healey on Tuesday signed a $2.31 billion spending bill to finalize MassHealth accounts and direct funding to former Steward Health Care hospitals, as well as programs covering care for uninsured and underinsured patients.
The Legislature sent the spending package to Healey last Wednesday, the final day of formal sessions for the year. Spokesperson Karissa Hand confirmed the governor signed the closeout Tuesday afternoon.
The law allocates $1.67 billion for MassHealth, $374 million for Steward hospital payments, $10 million for hosting costs tied to next year’s World Cup, $18.3 million for student financial aid, and $10 million for operational and technical upgrades at the Department of Transitional Assistance.
It also increases a hospital assessment to raise additional funds for the Health Safety Net program and authorizes a $50 million transfer from the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund into the account.
Lawmakers held back most appropriations requested by sheriffs to settle county budgets, pending an interim report from the inspector general expected by the end of February.
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