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Appropriations committee reshapes Department of Health budget; funds added to reduce DD waiver wait list
Summary
The Appropriations Committee adopted multiple amendments to the Department of Health budget, including reductions to some provider increases, a $5.45 million increase for emergency waiver placements, and a $4.5 million allocation aimed at cutting the DD waiver wait list by 50%. Lawmakers debated impacts on Medicaid, tribal services and provider capacity.
The Appropriations Committee spent the second day of biennial budget markup revising the Department of Health budget, approving targeted funding shifts and several footnotes that narrow how newly authorized money may be used. Key actions included authorizing emergency waiver placement funds and a separate allocation intended to halve the developmental disabilities (DD) waiver wait list.
Representative Pendergraft moved a package of changes and footnotes that the panel adopted. On the wait‑list item he proposed an increase of $4.5 million general funds with matching federal funds and asked the committee to add a footnote specifying that the money should be used "to reduce the DD waiver wait list by 50%." Director Richards told the committee agency testimony indicated the figure would…
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