Senate Ways & Means Releases FY27 State Budget Proposal
Senate Ways & Means Releases FY27 State Budget Proposal
The Massachusetts Senate budget includes increased MassHealth spending and continued investment in home care programs, while reimbursement reform efforts continue through the amendment process.
STATE BUDGET UPDATE
Senate Ways & Means Releases FY27 State Budget Proposal
The Massachusetts Senate budget includes increased MassHealth spending and continued investment in home care programs, while reimbursement reform efforts continue through the amendment process.
The proposal reflects ongoing fiscal caution on Beacon Hill while maintaining significant investments in healthcare and human services statewide.
More than half of the Senate’s proposed FY27 budget would support health and human services programs across Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its Fiscal Year 2027 state budget proposal on Wednesday, outlining a $63.3 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Senate proposal differs slightly from both the House-passed version of the budget and Governor Maura Healey’s original FY27 proposal released earlier this year, though all three proposals continue to reflect concerns about long-term fiscal pressures facing the Commonwealth.
The Senate budget includes approximately $22.74 billion in funding for MassHealth — slightly higher than the amount approved in the House budget — and allocates $412 million toward home care and case management programs administered through the Department of Aging and Independence Home Care Program.
Altogether, approximately 53 percent of the proposed state budget is directed toward health and human services programs, underscoring the continued central role these services play within the Commonwealth’s overall spending priorities.
Key Budget Highlights
- $63.3 billion total proposed FY27 state budget
- $22.74 billion allocated for MassHealth
- $412 million proposed for home care and case management programs
- 53% of the overall budget dedicated to health and human services
- Continued support for Governor Healey’s proposal to eliminate MassHealth coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs
As anticipated, the Alliance and Enough Pay to Stay Coalition’s rate-setting reform legislation was not included in the Senate Ways and Means proposal.
However, legislative champions supporting the proposal are expected to file amendments during Senate budget debate in an effort to continue advancing reimbursement reform for home health, home care, and continuous skilled nursing programs.
The Alliance will continue working closely with coalition partners and legislative leaders throughout the Senate debate process and will distribute advocacy alerts encouraging members to contact their State Senators in support of the amendment.
Advocacy Continues
Watch for upcoming Alliance action alerts as the Senate begins debate on the FY27 budget proposal.