A new stabilization factor to help financially vulnerable health care providers

History suggests that budget stabilization bills occur when the legislature is jockeying to figure out how to get more money to necessary budget items on creaky financial grounds. This round of stabilization has moved from K-12 schools to safety net providers serving low-income individuals needing various forms of health care. SB25-290 will put $25 million plus whatever other funds can be dredged up from the federal government (good luck) or other donors into a Provider Stabilization Fund.

Each eligible provider will receive funds proportional to the number of low-income, uninsured individuals they serve compared to the total served by all eligible providers. The $25 million, with amounts declining by $5 million each year up to 2027-28, will come from the state's unclaimed property trust fund.

SCR25-002 on child abuse litigation fast tracked

Senate Concurrent Resolution 002 will put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to allow victims of sexual abuse when minors to bring a civil case against their abuser(s) and institutions that hid the abuse as a retrospective law. Child sexual abuse is unique in a legal context as the victim is highly unlikely to report the crime when it occurred.

This fix to the constitution that must be approved in a vote of the people will allow these sexual-abuse victims to bring their cases forward in civil courts. Opposition to the resolution says that when too much time has passed, it may be impossible to prove or disprove that sexual abuse has occurred. Sen. Jesse Danielson, one of the sponsors of the bill, says that litigation can determine that issue, and that the seriousness of the crimes on children merit a serious legal response from us citizens. This resolution passed the Senate State, Military, Veterans Affairs Committee last night on a party-line vote.